Uncle Tramer

Moritz Tramer, Aunt Franka's husband, is the only close, nonblood relative we ever knew, having visited Switzerland a couple times while Dad was stationed in Stuttgart (1956-1959). He rates a biography in the German Wikipedia. Here, and in some other places (see Mom's letters to him about Theo David and family letters about us children), I have included family letters (to and from him) found in his archives in the Burgerbibliothek Bern.

I have excerpted some material just on Uncle Tramer from Mom's memories of Aunt Franka but left the full text there.

Other letters and other materials relating to his marriage to Aunt Franka are also posted on her site.

Mom's Memoirs:

Take 1:

Franka left Berlin in 1924 to get married to Dr. Moritz Tramer.

...

Tramer’s career is a story in itself. He came from poor Jewish farm parents in Mahren; left home as a boy to go to Basel, finished a technical school there, worked (where is he lost ½ finger in some machinery), and studied mathematics. He taught math in Zurich at a private school thus putting himself through medical school. He became a psychiatrist and just before his marriage accepted the job of superintendent (director) of the co------- mental institution in Solothurn (“Kantonale Heilanstalt”) hereon known as “Rosegg”. The Rosegg was surrounded by farm land and orchards, had cattle and poultry, a working farm; worked mostly by the patients. I loved wandering about there, watching swallows nest in the stables. For Franka this was an enormous change, a real cultural shock, from a cosmopolitan metropolis to a sleepy little Swiss town with less than 7 Jewish families. I believe Tramer had promised that this would be only a temporary job but he stayed there for 22 years. Franka taught as a “Privatdozentin” at the University of Bern during all the years in Solothurn, wrote books and articles, engaged in polemics (attacked – or was being attacked by – colleagues via newspapers, express letters etc) and spent most of her life at her desk. Her hearing was impaired early (supposedly by Scarlett fever as a young girl, which made it impossible for her to learn “scion per-----“ (can’t decipher) and she remained an outsider, socially isolated.

...

Tramer also taught as a P-D (Privatdozent) at the University of Zurich for many years and eventually was named Proffessor.

It was a pretty competitive marriage; both were workaholics and wrote profusely.

...

Tramer (Franka called him “Dudi” and I “Uncle Tramer”; he hated his given name Moritz) was instrumental in developing the branch of “child psychiatry” (Kinder psychiatrie). In Switzerland he was recognized as the “father of child psychiatry”; I don’t believe that this recognition was totally international. He wrote the first major text on the subject in German (Lehrbuck der Kinderpsychiatrie) and edited his own journal “Zeitschrift der KP” later “Kinderpsychiatrie, Acta paedopsychiatrica. His counterpart in the States was Prof Leo Kanner of Baltimore, a friend of his. In the late 20’s (?) Tramer was in Washington DC and I believe there was talk of his having an attractive offer there but nothing came of it – I do not know the circumstances. [Shirley’s note: if you Google Leo Kanner, he is credited with being the “father of child psychiatry” Interesting]

The Tramers did not have children; I spent many summers with them, the first in 1927 and in 1933 there was serious discussion of whether I should stay with them (Hitler situation). Inquires were made about school etc but the plan was not carried out and I do not remember why not. Peter Baumgarten also visited there for extended periods of time; one summer (1934?) together with me and we played at pretending we were brother and sister.

Take 2:

I think it was probably the sorrow of his [Uncle Tramer's] life that he did not have any children; but Franka was 40 by the time they got married, and in the nineteen twenties I am sure this was not considered child-bearing age any more. Anyway, I know even as a teenager their relationship always puzzled me: they slept in a double bed, but they never went to bed at the same time, nor did they get up at the same time: Uncle was the “early to bed early to rise” type, aunt the night owl. She called him “Dudi” (pronounce:”doodee”), he called her Franka, the good-night was a peck on the cheek... I never heard any endearments, and yet they were married over forty years. They had some friends, not very intimate, but then the Swiss are not very outgoing people on the whole. I remember a Dr. Schnyder, an ophthalmologist, I believe.

Notes:

1. Not sure which meeting Aunt Franka was away at. In 1924, she attended the First PIMCO (see her site), but haven't established what was meeting in late August such that she could get to Copenhagen, too.

2. Julek's wife and son.

3. Still before the big break-up with Aunt Fela!

4. Took me a while, but then realized he signed with "D" because Aunt Franka called him Dudi!