Another Obituary for August Utermohlen


An obituary for H.F.A. Utermohlen in the Nieuwe Hoornsche Courant of Wednesday, June 1st.

Here is a translation of this obituary:

"The blow has fallen...

The tidings that I feared at each moment, came today at noon, and has filled me with deep grief.

Mr. Utermohlen dead!...It's is as if a dream, never again to hear words of friendliness and heartiness out of his mouth, never more to see that true, open face, never again to come under the influence of the poetry that this artist's soul knew how to put into his playing...

How much we shall miss him, how the whole city will be in mourning, now that she has lost one of her most honorable citizens.

And as great as the pain is of those who called themselves his good friends or students, how much deeper must the grief be of the dear wife, who walked with our beloved deceased in almost fifty years of a true and love-filled marriage, and how much shall this brave and good father be missed and mourned by the children, not the least by those who could not come to his sickbed.

We would have so much liked to have had been able to allow Mr. Utermohlen still more years of rest, and we still all had hope that the strong constitution would triumph...but Death has won and took the life of a noble man. And if we should be consoled by anything, if one thing must console us, it is only that the sick man was spared a prolonged suffering, and that his departure was calm and gentle.

Let me set out at another time one thing and another about the deceased person we all mourn so - at this time I am to disturbed to carry out this task.

Because the passing of a man whom people regarded so highly, of a man whom people loved so much, shocks one deeply, and I am not ashamed of the tear in my eye, because I am all to much aware what a heavy loss has befallen us, now that the good, the best Mr. Utermohlen has left us forever........

Utrecht May 31. H.K."


Copyright V. Utermohlen
Updated December 30th, 2001.