Caprez, Oskar
Dr. med.

Chur, Switzerland, 1913-1993

Obituary Notice by J. Wendler

On the 30th of January 1993,
Oskar Caprez died in Chur,
all of a sudden, at the age of 80.
As the successor in office of the Secretary General of the Union of the European Phoniatricians, I have been in a position to particularly appreciate the outstanding personality of Oskar Caprez. He took over in 1976, in very difficult times, when the Union - nearly without any leadership - was in serious danger to run out of control. The man from Chur in Switzerland jumped into the opportunity and took the rudder well in hand. Thoroughly honest, courageous, and determined, experienced in delicate diplomatic affairs - that is how he started his work. It is his initiative, which the European Phoniatricians, finally owe their real consolidation to a Union. Under his responsibility, the by-laws where hammered out at Muttenz, and he achieved the legal recognition of an official status for UEP by the inscription into the trade register of Basel in 1977.

Of course, these are extremely important formalities, but still, not more than mere externals. The real merits of Oskar Caprez are due to his untiring efforts to take care of the human relations within the politically so strongly divided Europe. That the connections between the East and the West did not break off, but, on the contrary, were strengthened more and more and stood the test even under most difficult conditions - to this fact, Oskar Caprez contributed most considerably. He was present everywhere, in open as well as in confidential negotiations, calming down, settling, adjusting, motivating to courageous actions as well as to mutual understanding. And he convinced everybody by the inviolable integrity of his personality.

This indefatigable activity to the benefit of a unifying Europe of friends, determined to common work, will never be forgotten. We bow down to a great man in deep appreciation. His spirit may always fill us with courage and confidence, when we are now going to complete our setting out for Europe. It is quite obvious that enormous problems are waiting for us on this way. But, there is no other choice than to face upright and vigorously the everyday new challenges, following the tradition of people like Oskar Caprez. - What means tradition? Max Frisch, in his novel „Stiller“, gives the following answer: nothing else than to focus on the tasks of ones times with the same courage as our ancestors did with regard to the tasks of their times.

Oskar Caprez, your life has come true. Now, rest in peace. We will not forget you.