Lore Lilli Kapp, née Masur

Danzig
1906—1932

Frankfurt & Geneva   
1933—1937

New York & Rockfall
1937—1965

Basel
1965—1979

In Memoriam Lore L. Kapp (6.2.1906 - 5.2.1979)

_{(Eulogy by Ulrich von Pufendorf*, 8.2.1979; translation Sebastian Berger)}

“ [...] When we consider the life of Lore Kapp we also have to take into account the life of her husband who passed away just over two years ago. In my life span of more than eight decades I have seldomly encountered a couple who have grown into an exemplary whole on the human level and in their joint scientific work the way the Kapps did. Only this deep bond and commonality may explain what Lore Kapp has been able to accomplish during the past two years since her husband’s abrupt death “without  farewell”: his life’s work has been collected and systematically registered, making possible its further development. 

Thanks to Lore Kapp’s determined and focused initiative during two years and the help of friends the following has been accomplished: a symposium about her husband’s work at the University of Basel […], constituting the K. William and Lore L. Kapp Foundation for the Integration and Humanization of the Social Sciences [...], winning support from two scientific centres for the continuation of the scientific work of the Kapps (Institut Universitaire D’Etudes Du Developpement in Geneva) (Director Roy Preiswerk) and the New Era Center in London (Director Prof. Fred Blum), contracting the Fischer Verlag for the publication of Kapp’s work in German, with specific emphasis on her translation work, and further publications providing interpretations of Kapp’s work. [...] This initiative by Mrs Kapp deserves the deep respect and gratitude from all of us as her friends because it gives expression of a great spiritual and moral, but also a physical achievement inspite of bodily ailments. We should all view this as a great responsibility. All this could be realized despite the deep shock which Mrs Kapp suffered due to the unexpected death of her husband, which she considered insurmountable.

As such her whole being and efforts since the death of her husband must finally be seen as proof of her great love for him, which carried her far beyond herself. In recognition of the confusing and confused world in transformation towards new and global forms of conviviality of people and nations Kapp’s scientific insights and his vision of the development of a free, humane, and open world offer helpful guidance. He has anticipated its essential preconditions but also its fragility and at the same time freed us from the dogma of a retrogressive science. In his perspective a new and at the same time ancient humanist ideal of liberty reemerges which requires continued efforts for its realization. Towards this goal Mrs Kapp has made a significant contribution with her great efforts, which bind us together beyond her death in deep gratitude.” 

_{*Ulrich von Pufendorf was one of the founders and chair of the Political Economy Society (Wirtschaftspolitische Gesellschaft), which propagates a cosmopolitan culture-society. Among the co-founders are German chancellor Ludwig Erhard and German president Theodor Heuss. (Link︎︎︎)}