Dr. Otto Georg Waldstein

birth record of his son :

http://data.matricula-online.eu/de/oesterreich/wien-evang-dioezese-... (record #268)

Dr. Otto WALDSTEIN: b. 9 Dec 1878, Wien - d. 28 July 1936, Wien

cf. IKG-Wien Archives plus various other (noted) & family sources:

Basic birth data from IKG-Wien archives courtesy of www.genteam.at

242821 1878 1961 1 Wien Waldstein Otto Simon/Seligmann Hermine

Further details from actual IKG-Wien birth registration to be viewed courtesy of:

1878.12.09 - Otto WALDSTEIN - IKG-Wien BR

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-25807-5898-3?cc=20283...

Parents: Simon WALDSTEIN, optician, & Hermine, née SELIGMANN

Witnesses: Edm. Edl. von GUTMANN & Julius ?

Bears note that left Jewish community on 18.09.1897

Listed under those who left Jewish community as per genteam ...

Lfdnr 14199 Familienname Waldstein Vorname Otto Mädchenname Familienname geändert Geburtsdatum 1878.12.09 Herkunft Wien G1961 Land Beruf Gymnasiast Austritt 1897 Alter 19 Stand ledig WStla mba01 Ikg 1897/346

Plus later conversion from same source:

Detailansicht - Konvertiten ________________________________________ Lfdnr 3682 Familienname Waldstein Mädchenname Name geändert Vorname Otto Taufname Otto Fritz Geburtsdatum 1878.12.09 Herkunft Wien Beruf Hofoptiker Austritt 1897.09.18 Taufpfarre AB Taufdatum 1904.11.10 Alter 26

Otto WALDSTEIN was born on 9 December 1878, in Wien, to Simon WALDSTEIN and Hermine WALDSTEIN [SELIGMANN].

After 1902, when older than 24, he was an optician (k.u.k.) in Wien. In 1903, aged about 24, he was a member of Chamber of Commerce in Lower Austria. In 1913, aged about 34, he was a chairman of department launched by chamber of commerce to oversee scientific and technical apparatus. in Wien. After 1913, when older than 35, Otto was a member of administrative board of Chamber of Commerce, assuming extensive supplementary duties such as librarian, treasurer and vice-president in Wien. He was educated in Wien (Matura). He was further educated in Wien, Universität (Degree in Physics & Chemistry).

In 1919, aged about 40, Otto resided at Wien I, Kohlmarkt 3.

Before 1930, when younger than 51, he was a teacher at the Vienna School of Opticians in Wien. Before 1930, when younger than 51, he was a founder and became Präsident of Imperial Federation of Austrian Opticians and of a specialist circular for opticians. in Wien. In 1930, aged about 51, Otto was a spokesperson for the opticians craft in the Chamber of Commerce, Trade & Industry - also assuming responsibilities for field of mechanics. in Wien.

The following information on Otto Waldstein is courtesy of Wladimir Aichelberg in "100 Jahre Künstlerhaus Wien":

Associate member on 28 October 1924, aged 45, in Künstlerhaus Wien; Membership before 1930, when younger than 51, in Schützengilde ... • N.B. It may well be via this membership that he became acquainted with Rudolf Zyka. Their two children, Fritz and Leopoldina later married (Membership in 1930)., ... co-founder of Wiener Jungschützenverein etc.

Citations: • Source 2, page http://www.wladimi-aichelburg.at/ (Associate member in 1924).

Otto Waldstein enjoyed hunting also (cf. newspaper article on death)

Otto died (suicide) on 28 July 1936, aged 57, in Wien.

He was buried on 1 August 1936 in Wien, Zentralfriedhof T2/35f-3-2.In 1919, aged about 40.

The following information is also recorded for Otto. Award in 1932, aged about 53, in Wien / Lower Austria.

Notes:

• Many fascinating additional notes made possible courtesy of the biography on Otto Waldstein which appears on the website dedicated to the Wilhelm Exner Medal Foundation:

www.wilhelmexner.org.

• f. Lisl's recollections: his opticians premises were on the Kohlmarkt, just across from the famous bakery & confectionary house of Demel.

This now substantiated by recently researched evidence: cf. newspaper advertisement in NFP & various other sources.

Otto took over his father Simon's optician's business around the time of the latter's early death in 1902 (Occupation in 1902).

• N.B. many antique optical articles bearing the firm name of "Simon Waldstein" offered on various internet sites (Occupation in 1902).

• "k.u.k. Hoflieferant" - this celebrated status appears already on list dating 1899 (Occupation in 1902).

• cf. www.wilhelmexner.org (Occupation in 1903; Occupation in 1913; Occupation in 1913; Occupation in 1930).

• cf. www.wilhelmexner.org for biographical notes on Otto Waldstein (Education).

• cf. biographical notes on Otto Waldstein: www.wilhelmexner.org (Occupation in 1930).

• cf. www. wilhelmexner.org (Occupation in 1930).

• cf. 29th. July 1936 article in the Neue Freie Presse regarding Otto's death ...

Basic sort of summary in English:

Otto Waldstein had suffered a stroke a year or so earlier which had left him incapacitated. In particular, not only his movements but his sight was much hampered by this debilitating attack. On the evening of the 28th. July 1936, Otto appeared at the premises of the Vienna Voluntary First Aid Association. This was, apparently, no unusual occurrence because he was well-known there as having been one of the original founders of the institution and a continuing contributing supporter, besides being a good friend of the director. The officer on duty that day told Otto that the director was in his room on the first floor. As they were going upstairs together, Otto suddenly said he felt dizzy. The officer, therefore, immediately ushered him onto a divan in a nearby room and went to notify the director. But as he left the room he heard a shot, ran back to see blood pouring from a wound in Otto's left chest and a small-calibre pistol in his hand. Otto had clearly quite spontaneously chosen to put an end to his no-longer-so-wonderful life. He was, though, still just conscious. As the director and others arrived on the scene he managed to murmer: "Give my greetings to everyone", and, "Be careful with the revolver, it's loaded." He was taken to hospital where he died within half an hour. His family hurried there but were too late to wish him goodbye.

N.B. The last section points out that the family had already been in a state of alert for some time, knowing how much Otto was greatly depressed by his disabling state of health and all too aware of the fact that, as he was an avid hunter and co-founder of the Vienna shooting club, he was especially well-versed in the use of guns and owned a large collection (Death).

• Wilhelm-Exner Medal. cf. www.wilhelmexner.org

" ... On the occasion of the 90th. Jubilee year of the Lower Austria Chamber of Commerce, the opportunity was also taken to honour Otto Waldstein for his many services. Mention was especially made of the fact that he had "always striven to encourage progress in the association and had worked with such indefatigable application to see all his assigned agendas through." It is of particular note that, amongst other accomplishments, it was he who actually had the initiative to set up the William Exner Medal Foundation in the first place. This award is given in the spirit of the ever repeated aims of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and, likewise, its very patron and namesake William Exner, namely, to facilitate a close relationship between representatives of the business community and innovative exponents from the fields of science and technology" (Award).

Note: f. Lisl Walk's recollections: his opticians premises were on the Kohlmarkt, just across from the famous bakery & confectionary house of Demel. - This now confirmed by advertisement of business in NFP. - She also recalls with nostalgia how, when she went to visit her "Onkel Otto", he was frequently busy working but his sweet wife "Tante Hansi" would enchant her with little gifts such as collected sample bottles of "Soir de Paris" perfume ... (Occupation in 1936).

• BUT ... despite Otto Waldstein's quite eminent status in various Vienna organisations ... frustratingly so far not a single picture of him can be located, and, sadly, no photo in family files can be identified with any certainty as being him ... (August 2012) .

May 2013: An old letter written by Lola Waldstein, Otto's daughter-in-law (extracts of this are posted on son, Fritz Waldstein's profile under "Media")) in Wien to Lisl Walk in Oxford provides the following details:

" ... Vater: Dr. Otto Georg Waldstein, geb. 9.12.1878 in Wien, Kammerrat, Kommerzialrat, noch beim alten Kaiser --- Truchsess, Hof-Optiker bis Nov. 1918, gest. 28 Juli 1936 in Wien. Er war Sohn von Hofoptiker Simon Waldstein und der Hermine, geb. Seligmann, von diesen weiss ich aber keine Daten...."

Translation:

" ... father, Otto Georg Waldstein, born 09.12.1878 in Vienna, financial and commercial advisor to the court, even that of the former Kaiser - "Truchsess", court steward, optician to the court until November 1918, he died on 28th. July 1936 in Vienna. The latter was son of the court optician Simon Waldstein and Hermine, née Seligmann, about whom I have no further information ..."

The ever-obliging Otto came to the rescue of his dear relatives on several occasions. Here are two examples:

From relative Friedrich GUTH's*** memoir:

"When Vera and I reached an agreement about our future plans, I began to look for a place to live. Vera's cousin, Otto Waldstein, enthusiastically helped with this search, but it seemed hopeless to find something appropriate."

• ** cf. Friedrich "Fritz" Guth (1888 - 1972) - Genealogy

Friedrich "Fritz" Guth

and ...

cf. Lola WENGRAF***, née BARKÓCSZY:

• on her deathbed (Marriage in 1928). • Although Lola & Edmund had already taken the first steps towards a possible marriage it was Lola's sudden critical state that made push come to shove. Lisl recalls that her mother Erny was summoned urgently to go in search of a priest to perform the matrimonial ceremony at short notice on the very day that it was clear poor Lola was dying. Erny ran frantically around Wien and finally found a willing clergyman and rustled up two witnesses: Leo Walk, of course, and also the ever-obliging "uncle" Otto Waldstein (he makes frequent appearances as witness in several other family documents). Edmund Wengraf obviously wanted to grant his Lola her last dying wish - and it was done ... (Marriage in 1928).

Geni - "Lola" Maria Leonie Wengraf (Sztankovits-Barkóczy), Baronin (1894-1928)- Wien

"Lola" Maria Leonie Wengraf, Baronin

AND AT LONG LAST ...

Profile photo courtesy of:

ANNO, Radio Wien, 1926-02-01, Seite 44

http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?aid=raw&datum=19260201&seite...