At 9 a.m. in the densely packed St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, cathedral priest Toni Faber celebrated a public memorial service for the deceased, which was also attended by the Third President of the National Council Norbert Hofer (FPÖ) and Family Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP). “You were ‘Mörtel’ – a Viennese institution,” said Hofer in his eulogy.
The visitors had the opportunity to pay their respects to Lugner before the memorial service. At 8 a.m., the coffin containing the deceased was laid out in the cathedral accompanied by his family to the sound of the St. Christopher bell. Daughter Jacqueline Lugner accompanied her father on his final journey and was supported by her husband Leo Lugner and her mother Christina Lugner, the businessman’s ex-wife. His last wife Simone and his sons Alexander and Andreas Lugner also paid their last respects to the master builder. Former partners such as Anastasia Sokol (“Katzi”) and Nina Bruckner (“Bambi”) also came. Good friends such as the plastic surgeon Artur Worseg and his wife Kristina, and astrologer Gerda Rogers also attended the funeral service.
Addressing companions
The wake was taken over by bodyguard Christian Löschnigg, who, together with his team, ensured for more than 15 years that no uninvited journalists or guests entered the architect’s opera ball box. At Lugner’s request, his legendary opera ball top hat was placed on the coffin. In front of it was a large heart made of red roses.
After the opening of the memorial service by cathedral pastor Toni Faber at 9 a.m., speeches were given by Hofer, the President of the Lower Austrian State Parliament, Karl Wilfing (ÖVP), and the actress Edith Leyrer. “He was an important part of Viennese society and a person who lived life with unshakable energy and passion,” said Hofer. Lugner knew how to combine business and showbiz without ever losing the fun of it. “Austria bows to you, my friend.”
Photo gallery: Farewell to Richard Lugner
(Photo: GEORG HOCHMUTH (APA)) Bild 1/26
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Wilfing underlined the master builder’s “respectable life’s work”. “He lived his life with his own unmistakable joy of life, with his infectious optimism, his tireless energy and his trust in God,” said the state parliament president. A central aspect of Lugner’s life was his view of humanity: “He liked to mingle with the proverbial ‘people’, free from any fear of contact,” said Wilfing. The master builder would probably have made a good mayor too.
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Image: OÖNGrafik
Leyrer praised the builder’s hard work, efficiency and great courage. “Your motto was: live and let live. You were the most generous friend and person anyone could wish for,” said Leyrer. “You will be missed not only by your family and friends, but also by the yellow press.”
The musical accompaniment for the funeral service was provided by Dennis Jale, who sang a version of the song “Candle in the Wind” specially adapted for the master builder, as well as “Always on My Mind” and “Amazing Grace” between the speeches. After a joint “Our Father” prayer for the deceased, the coffin was prepared for removal shortly after 10 a.m. As the funeral procession set off, the fan polonaise followed, to the applause of the mourners, a tribute to the master builder’s greatest passion, the Vienna Opera Ball.
In front of the cathedral, after a final “Radetzky March” by the Hoch- und Deutschmeister band, the coffin was lifted into the carriage. Then the motorcade carrying the architect’s coffin set off to the sound of the Heldenturm bells to visit the deceased’s two greatest places of work: the State Opera and the Lugner City, where the people of Vienna waved to him on his final journey. People were still signing the condolence book in the shopping center on Saturday. After a circuit around the Lugner City, the funeral procession set off towards Döbling at 11 a.m.
The actual burial finally took place in the early afternoon in the closest circle of family and friends after a memorial service in the Kaasgraben church in a crypt at the Grinzing cemetery. The family of the deceased thanked everyone involved and for the great public sympathy. “Richard would have been very happy about that,” they said.
Lugner died on August 12th in his villa in Vienna-Döbling at the age of 91. He had previously struggled with health problems and recently had to undergo major heart surgery.
This article was updated at 2:04 p.m.
