Dewezet

We mourn Wolfhard F. Truchsess — the former member of the editor-in-chief of our newspaper has passed away.

He shaped entire generations of editors, he trained them, guided them, gave them the journalistic skills they needed – and always gave them the freedom they needed. "Be thorough in your research, be consistent in your writing, be clear in your views. I can only give you the tools of the trade, you have to find your own way,” the advice of this highly respected journalist, Wolfhard F. Truchsess. The former acting editor-in-chief of the Dewezet und Pyrmonter Nachrichten died on Monday, April 3rd at the age of 79.

We mourn with his family, his wife Ulle, his five children, his five grandchildren and his ward, a Jezidi refugee from Iraq, to whom he has been teaching the German language and culture every week since 2015 and who has grown so dear to his heart, that he referred to him as his sixth child.

And yes, we are also part of his family, his editorial family, which he had in the Niemeyer house. He worked here for decades, researched thoroughly, wrote consistently and commented clearly. Always precise in his formulations, always considering whether the message would be understood as he meant it, always questioning whether the information could not be formulated a little more clearly for the reader. And if it served the cause, he didn't shy away from a discussion, and if he had to, he didn't shy away from an argument. That's how he was: “Be clear in your views — and fight for them.” This journalist, author and family man set an example.

Born on February 10, 1944 in Mehrow, east of Berlin, Wolfhard F. Truchsess grew up in Franconia after fleeing, studied newspaper science, politics and Eastern European history in Munich, volunteered at the Münchner Jüdische Zeitung” under editor-in-chief Mosche Lustig. He worked as a researcher for the communication research, which took over research and knowledge transfer for publishers. At the beginning of 1976, at the age of 32, he moved to Hamelin as a political editor for the Deister and Weser newspapers. Politics, large and small, had always fascinated this well-read, clever and critical man, always kept him busy and always allowed him to have a say. Since then, readers, colleagues and everyone else have known the curly head, almost untamable head of hair – which became a trademark of his signature “wft.”

Truchsess was always involved in life, above all, of course, as an editor, as an author for our readers, as a critical commentator. He volunteered to train young journalists, ensuring a new generation of writers. Of the 33 years at Dewezet, he spent 19 of them in editorial work and was responsible for publications in the daily newspaper.

He was active in his early role as a trade unionist, as a member of the collective bargaining committee. He was an active and energetic supporter of the Jewish community in Hamelin and the construction of the new synagogue here. He also supported the youth philharmonic orchestra in Hamelin under Professor Olga Tschipanina, his piano teacher, as a moderator at their concerts.

As a friend of clear words, Wolfhard F. Truchsess loved the unbridled nature of music, because it brought something completely different to his life, sometimes classical sometimes jazzy. He lived, just as he pleased, in his own style.

Mourning for Wolfhard F. Truchsess — He Was a Man of Clear Words