Herbert Anton Kellner
died on April 21 in Darmstadt, Germany. Born on December 25, 1938, in Prague,
he studied philosophy, physics, mathematics, and astronomy at the University of
Vienna, and was awarded a PhD in 1961 with a dissertation in mathematics. In
1975 he identified the unequal temperament of J. S. Bach for Das wohltemperirte
Clavier. He worked for 33 years in space technology and satellite
communications management. His extensive bibliography includes numerous
articles on temperaments, Bach, and symbolism, among which are articles in The
Diapason: "How Bach encoded his name into Die Kunst der Fuge together
with his tuning," May, 1999, pp. 14-15; "Johann Sebastian
Bach and Die Kunst der Fuga," March, 2000, p. 13; and "Die Kunst
der Fuga: J.S. Bach's Prefatory Message and Implications," May,
2000, pp. 15-17. For a complete bibliography:
<http://ha.kellner.bei.t-online.de>.
Anna L. Raitch died
on May 6 at Fox Run Nursing Home, Findlay, Ohio, after a short illness. She was
94. Born on July 25, 1908 in Mansfield, Ohio, she lived in many areas of the
United States, as she followed her husband who was an officer in the Naval
Reserves. An organist and a teacher of organ and piano for 50 years, she served
as organist of many churches including Brookwood Presbyterian Church, Columbus,
Ohio; First Community Church, Upper Arlington, Ohio; and Lutheran, Methodist,
and Christian Science churches in Huntsville, Alabama; Syracuse, New York; and
San Francisco, California. Mrs. Raitch was a member of the Mansfield Apostolic
Christian Church, Mansfield, Ohio, and a member of the Philanthropic Education
Organization, a charter member of the Mansfield Symphony, and former secretary
of the Columbus AGO chapter. She had served as organist for Wappner Funeral
Directors and the Renaissance Theatre.
Fern Roberta Traugott
died on November 12, 2002, at a nursing home in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
She was 87 years old. Born on January 1, 1915, in Fairmont, Oklahoma, to Oscar
and Christina Kind, she spent her youth in Winfield, Kansas, and was raised in
the environment of St. John's Lutheran College, where her parents served
as house-parents to the 250 ministerial students. There she began her lifelong
interest in music and worked toward her degree in organ at Southwestern College
in Winfield. She married Edgar Traugott on March 24, 1940, and lived in
Louisiana for 43 years. She was employed as a secretary for 23 years at the
University of New Orleans. Following retirement, the Traugotts moved to Hot
Springs Village, Arkansas, in 1983 and were charter members of Faith Lutheran
Church there. A lifelong church organist, Fern Traugott served Lutheran
churches in Kansas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, serving Faith Lutheran Church
1986-96. In her capacity there, she was instrumental in the installation
of its historic Hook & Hastings organ in the early 1990s. Mrs. Traugott is
survived by a son, six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many
nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Edgar, one son,
her parents, and six siblings.
