Mourning for honorary citizen and former mayor Rudi Schmitt
The state capital of Wiesbaden mourns the loss of its honorary citizen and former Lord Mayor Rudi Schmitt, who passed away on Friday, April 10, at the age of 98. According to the family, Rudi Schmitt passed away peacefully at his home.
Mayor Gert-Uwe Mende paid tribute to the late mayor as the “great architect of modern Wiesbaden”—during his tenure as a Wiesbaden city council member (1960 to 1968) and as mayor (1968 to 1980), numerous important construction projects—schools, sports halls, community centers—were completed. He made a name for himself in the areas of urban development, promotion of public transportation, expansion of the spa and convention industry, social housing, business development, securing the energy supply, and establishing and expanding city partnership relationships.
Close to the people, persistent, and with great passion, he rendered outstanding service to Wiesbaden. He would have been a personal role model to him, and every encounter with him would have been a great enrichment, said Mende.
By resolution of the City Council on May 18, 1995, Rudi Schmitt was named an honorary citizen. For his work, he was also awarded the Honorary Plaque of the State Capital of Wiesbaden and the Grand Cross of Merit of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
About Rudi Schmitt
Rudi Schmitt was born on January 8, 1928, in Frankfurt am Main. After completing his studies, he worked as a teacher in Frankfurt from 1946 until his election as an SPD representative to the Hessian State Parliament in 1954. He joined the SPD in 1947. From 1960 to 1968, Schmitt served as a city councilor in Wiesbaden, heading the departments of education and sports, and, beginning in 1966, also the department of culture. On February 1, 1968, he was elected mayor of the state capital.
After stepping down from his position as mayor, he served two terms in the German Bundestag through a direct mandate until 1987. In 1959, he was a member of the 3rd Federal Assembly and in 1984 a member of the 8th Federal Assembly for the election of the Federal President. From 1967 to 1988, Rudi Schmitt served as chairman of the Wiesbaden district branch of the German Red Cross (DRK), and from 1988 to 2001 as president of the DRK’s Hesse regional branch.
The family has expressly requested to be allowed to mourn the deceased in peace and asks that media inquiries be refrained from. The funeral will take place in the immediate family circle. Out of consideration for the bereaved, a memorial service organized by the city of Wiesbaden will be held at a later date. Starting Tuesday, April 14, at 10 a.m., a book of condolences will be available for one week in the foyer of City Hall, Schlossplatz 6. The flagpoles at City Hall will fly black ribbons on that day.
Protocol
Address
Schlossplatz 6
65183 Wiesbaden
Postal address
65029 Wiesbaden
Arrival
Notes on public transport
Bus stop Dern'sches Gelände, Luisenplatz and Wilhelmstraße.
Telephone
- +49 611 313330
- +49 611 313910
Information on accessibility
- Barrier-free access is available
- The WC is barrier-free