Family Card - Person Sheet
NameDr. med. Wilhelm Knöpfelmacher 
Birth1866
Death14 Apr 1938
FatherMoses Knöpfelmacher (1830-1899)
MotherBetti Beer (1833-1917)
Notes for Dr. med. Wilhelm Knöpfelmacher
{geni:about_me} Dr. Wilhelm Knopfelmacher graduated from medical school in Vienna in 1891.
While still a student, he became a lecturer in pediatrics to his fellow students. Later
in 1891, he joined the medical staff of the Karolinen-Children's Hospital in Vienna.
In 1901, he became "executive and head physician" of the entire hospital. He
remained in that position until his retirement on 1 October 1934.
In 1911, Dr. Wilhelm Knopfelmacher was bestowed the title of "Extraordinary
Professor in Pediatrics" at the University of Vienna. In August 1936, on the
occasion of his 70th birthday, the following tribute was written about him:
"A number of friends, pupils, former assistants, and doctors who have worked at the
Karolinen-Children's Hospital, hereby wish to present you with this Festschrift, which
is dedicated to you, in order to express our feelings of gratitude and sincere esteem.
We would like to use this occasion of your 70th birthday to express our heartfelt
wishes for your well-being. We realize that formal speeches would not have met
with your approval; but you, esteemed professor, whose life's work was research into
diseases of children and whose whole endeavour was the healing of children's
illnesses, will readily accept a collection of contributions from gains in pediatrics; from
leaders of many children's hospitals in Europe; from your friends in America; and
contributions from paediatricians who, over the many years of your work at the
Karolinen-Children's Hospital, were fortuate enough to work with and under you.
We have joined together to show you by means of this Festschrift that we think of
you in gratitude and love on your birthday." [Spoken by Dr. H. Lehndorff]
Despite the accolades of 1936, the Nazis "dismissed" Dr. Wilhelm Knopfelmacher
from any association with the Karolinen-Children's Hospital in 1938. Devastated by
the thought of being barred from entering his beloved hospital, Dr. Knopfelmacher
committed suicide by morphine a few days later (14 April 1938). He was 71 years
old at the time of his death.
He never married, and his only survivors were his three nieces.
Geburt und Tod Quelle GenTeam
While still a student, he became a lecturer in pediatrics to his fellow students. Later
in 1891, he joined the medical staff of the Karolinen-Children's Hospital in Vienna.
In 1901, he became "executive and head physician" of the entire hospital. He
remained in that position until his retirement on 1 October 1934.
In 1911, Dr. Wilhelm Knopfelmacher was bestowed the title of "Extraordinary
Professor in Pediatrics" at the University of Vienna. In August 1936, on the
occasion of his 70th birthday, the following tribute was written about him:
"A number of friends, pupils, former assistants, and doctors who have worked at the
Karolinen-Children's Hospital, hereby wish to present you with this Festschrift, which
is dedicated to you, in order to express our feelings of gratitude and sincere esteem.
We would like to use this occasion of your 70th birthday to express our heartfelt
wishes for your well-being. We realize that formal speeches would not have met
with your approval; but you, esteemed professor, whose life's work was research into
diseases of children and whose whole endeavour was the healing of children's
illnesses, will readily accept a collection of contributions from gains in pediatrics; from
leaders of many children's hospitals in Europe; from your friends in America; and
contributions from paediatricians who, over the many years of your work at the
Karolinen-Children's Hospital, were fortuate enough to work with and under you.
We have joined together to show you by means of this Festschrift that we think of
you in gratitude and love on your birthday." [Spoken by Dr. H. Lehndorff]
Despite the accolades of 1936, the Nazis "dismissed" Dr. Wilhelm Knopfelmacher
from any association with the Karolinen-Children's Hospital in 1938. Devastated by
the thought of being barred from entering his beloved hospital, Dr. Knopfelmacher
committed suicide by morphine a few days later (14 April 1938). He was 71 years
old at the time of his death.
He never married, and his only survivors were his three nieces.
Geburt und Tod Quelle GenTeam