In Memoriam 1992-1997/Otto Liede

OTTO LIEDE

1904—1996

tto Liede was born in Karlsruhe,

Germany, in 1904. His professional life was Characterized by diligence and perseverance. He left school with an elementary school certificate and trained as a bank Clerk. After working for the Reichsbank for several years, he successfully passed the examinations for a secondary school diploma as an external candidate. Thereafter he entered public service and through further examinations qualified for work in the legal profession. As a judicial officer, Otto held posts in Radolfzell, Neustadt, and Baden—Baden. From 1933 until his retirement in 1970, he was employed by the Rheinische Hypothekenbank and held a leading position from 1952 onward. During the Second World War he was called For military service and had the misfortune of becoming a prisoner ofwar, and it was not until 1948 that he was able to return home.

In 1933 Otto married Anna Liede, who bore him three children. The family moved to Heidelberg in 1935 and then to Mannheim in 1954. After the death of his wife in 1981, Otto continued to live in their private Hat until 1994 when he moved to a home for the aged. Although he was able to celebrate his ninetieth birthday in full possession of his mental faculties, the last few years of his life were marked by failing health and loss of vitality. Because of injuries he sustained in a fall he needed several hospitalizations, but thankfully he was spared lengthy suffering.

I was one of Otto’s friends from 1949 onward. He was an immensely lovable person of cheerful disposition and one who always knew how to make the best out of life. As a father, he set an excellent example for his children. He was admired and treasured by all those who knew him.

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Otto Lifdt’

He was intellectually and spiritually inclined. He loved music, and he played the piano. He was dedicated to whatever was good, beautiful, and true. Yet at the same time, Otto was a down-to-earth person, one with his feet set firmly on the ground. He had many interests. He was well read, intellectually alert, and concerned about the problems of our time. He knew that in this life both the body and the soul must be cared for. He liked to go hiking, and even when he was very old, he continued to practice yoga, with headstands every morning and jogging in the Luisenpark. But his activities were never centered solely on himself. Even in retirement Otto kept up his social interests and commitments. He worked as a volunteer for different social organizations such as the Good Templars and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Out departed friend was a seeker after truth; his spiritual home was the Bahá’í Faith, the most recent of the revealed teligions. As early as 1926, together with his

wife, he entered the Bahá’í community. After the war Otto was a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Heidelberg, and later he served on the Assembly in Mannheim. The community benefited, not only from his sound legal knowledge and experience in economics, but also, and indeed most of all, from his objective and unprejudiced way of thinking that was directed toward the creation and maintenance of harmony. For many years he was active in the financial committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany—a meritorious service for which the Bahá’í community is deeply grateful.

Now his earthly life has reached its end.210 Otto was a deeply religious person inspired by the Teachings of Baha’u’llah. He was convinced of the belief common to all religions that man is spiritual in essence, that the soul is an indestructible entity, that ifone believes in God and with a pure heart tries to keep to the “straight path,” he will be assured of the mercy of God in the next life and will be “led with honor into paradise” as it says in the Qu’ran. Every day he said a prayer that I, complying with Otto’s wish, would like to share with you:

“O God! Make me to be humble and patient. Bestow upon me spiritual eyes and grant that I may enter Thy kingdom. Strengthen me through Thy might, refresh me by Thy love and redeem me by Thy mercy. Prepare me for Thine advent and grant that I may gaze on 'Ihy grandeur.”

We mourn the loss of a very dear friend. But it may comfort us to know that Otto Liede, who reached a biblical age, is now reunited with his wife, and, freed from the burdens of earthly life, is able to wander in

2‘0 Otto Liede passed away on September 25, 1996.

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heavenly pastures, to dwell in exalted places, and to gaze upon the splendor of God.

Wanslatm'fiom an oration given

in German by Udo Scbacfi’r