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At 12:25 AM PST on October 7, 2005, Karl Guttmann died at Trinity Hospice in London, England of pancreatic cancer. A long time San Francsico resident, Mr. Guttmann was one of the last surviving Dunera Boys. The "Dunera Boys" were some 2,000 Jews who fled to England from Germany and Austria in the face of the Nazi onslaught just before World War II, only to find themselves brusquely loaded aboard a transport ship, once war broke out, for no apparent reason other than the fact that they spoke German, and dispatched to internment camps in Australia. The Dunera was the subject of a 1985 movie, "The Dunera Boys", starring Bob Hoskins (for more about the Dunera Boys and the movie see www.sfjff.org/cgi-bin/sfjff_resource.pl?titleID12 and www.holocaust.com.au/mm/i_horst.htm ).
Born in Vienna, Austria in 1919, Mr. Guttmann arrived in San Francisco in 1950 by way of London, internment as a "prisoner of war" in Hay, southwest Australia after his trip on the Dunera, followed by nine years of life in Australia (including becoming an Australian citizen). He founded his own Mechanical Engineering firm in San Francisco - Kasin Guttmann & Associates - in 1956. This continued a family history of engineers originating from his grandfather, Leopold Guttmann, who carried the title, "Imperial Plumber." He earned this title after installing some of the first plumbing fixtures of the Imperial Palace in Vienna. The firm operated under the name Guttmann & MacRitchie from 1977 to 1997, and continues under the name Guttmann & Blaevoet managed by his youngest son, Steven Guttmann.
Karl escaped Vienna shortly after it's annexation by Hitler's Germany (the "Anschluss") in 1938. He witnessed Hitler's arrival in Vienna, watching him drive up the Mariahilferstrasse in his open Mercedes Benz. His experiences of "government sanctioned" intimidation included the rise of anti-semitism in Austria and the internment by the British in 1940, as well as a memorable citizenship hearing in the early 1950's during the era of the House Un-American Activities Committee. His time at Trinity Hospice was peaceful, and he was well cared for both physically by the nurses and staff of the hospice as well as lovingly by Frances, Steven, and Rossi, who were one or all at his side continuously for his last six days. He is survived by his third wife, Frances Binnington of London, England, his son Steven Guttmann of San Francisco, his step-son Rossi Snipper of Minneapolis, Minnesota; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Born in Vienna, Austria in 1919, Mr. Guttmann arrived in San Francisco in 1950 by way of London, internment as a "prisoner of war" in Hay, southwest Australia after his trip on the Dunera, followed by nine years of life in Australia (including becoming an Australian citizen). He founded his own Mechanical Engineering firm in San Francisco - Kasin Guttmann & Associates - in 1956. This continued a family history of engineers originating from his grandfather, Leopold Guttmann, who carried the title, "Imperial Plumber." He earned this title after installing some of the first plumbing fixtures of the Imperial Palace in Vienna. The firm operated under the name Guttmann & MacRitchie from 1977 to 1997, and continues under the name Guttmann & Blaevoet managed by his youngest son, Steven Guttmann.
Karl escaped Vienna shortly after it's annexation by Hitler's Germany (the "Anschluss") in 1938. He witnessed Hitler's arrival in Vienna, watching him drive up the Mariahilferstrasse in his open Mercedes Benz. His experiences of "government sanctioned" intimidation included the rise of anti-semitism in Austria and the internment by the British in 1940, as well as a memorable citizenship hearing in the early 1950's during the era of the House Un-American Activities Committee. His time at Trinity Hospice was peaceful, and he was well cared for both physically by the nurses and staff of the hospice as well as lovingly by Frances, Steven, and Rossi, who were one or all at his side continuously for his last six days. He is survived by his third wife, Frances Binnington of London, England, his son Steven Guttmann of San Francisco, his step-son Rossi Snipper of Minneapolis, Minnesota; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.