Heinrich Schenker - Declining Health and Death

Declining Health and Death

In his later years Schenker complained of fatigue. He and Jeanette would spend summers usually in the Tyrolean mountains, most often in the town Galtür. In his correspondence with Victor Hammer, Schenker revealed that he was very near-sighted which hindered him from obtaining a better understanding of painting. Additionally he suffered from goiter and obesity, reasons for which he was granted a permanent exemption from military service. Already in 1914 he had been diagnosed with diabetes which necessitated frequent visits to the doctor and an enforced diet (which Schenker did not always keep).

Even towards the end of life, Schenker worked steadily. He corrected proofs for Free Composition from December 16 to 23, 1934. He commented negatively on a radio broadcast of December 30, 1934, but then heard Strauss's Der Fledermaus in a live broadcast from the Vienna State Opera and declared it a "most brilliant performance." On a medical examination of January 4, 1935, he received an unfavorable report, noting symptoms including the swelling of his feet and extreme thirst. He was taken to a sanatorium for an insulin therapy.

Jeanette recorded Schenker's final moments in his diary:

From within a slight stupor I heard him say “...From...” "From what?" I say, "we'll still be with one another"--and I make an sudden gesture, because I did not understand. He continued: “from ... from the St. Matthew Passion something occurred to me...” These were the last words of my beloved.”

Schenker died on January 14, age 67 at 2 AM, the cause of death listed as diabetes and arteriosclerosis. He was buried on January 17 at the Wiener Zentralfriedhof, Gate 4, Group 3, Series 4, number 8.

Jeanette Schenker stayed in Vienna after the Anschluss. She was rescued twice from the Nazis before being arrested and transported on June 29, 1942. She died in Theresienstadt on January 8, 1945.