Anton (Tonerl) [Schimatowitsch]
born St. Pölten, May 21, 1907; died Vienna, 1976
Documents associated with this person:
Possibly the elder son of Anton (Tonschl) Schimatowitsch, grandson of Mrs. Schimatowitsch, hence “adoptive” grandson of Wilhelm Schenker, and thus an “adoptive” grand nephew of Heinrich Schenker; older brother of Karl (Karli) Schimatowitsch.
Identity
The name “Tonerl” appears frequently in Schenker’s diary between 1919 and 1927, and often in Heinrich’s correspondence with his elder brother Wilhelm between 1925 and 1934. The surname “Schimatowitsch” is nowhere used in the Schenker papers; the grounds for identification are set out in the profile for Anton (Tonschl) Schimatowitsch. The remainder of this profile is predicated on that identification.
Life Summary
Tonerl was baptised in St. Pölten on May 21, 1907, the first child of “Tonschl” and his unknown wife, whose death, as reported by Tonerl himself, is recorded in Heinrich’s diary for January 10, 1921. The Schimatowitsch family was close to the Bednař family, Tonerl being friendly with Heini Bednař. Nothing is known of Tonerl’s childhood or education other than that he and Karl had mumps in 1918 when living in the household of Wilhelm and Dodi Schenker, where they were called “the children” (OJ 5/38, [1], January 24, 1918); in 1923 he was a trainee at a hardware store (diary, November 6, 1923), and in 1925 Heinrich reports that his younger brother Moriz expected to find a job for him at Rothmüller (perhaps the Viennese clothing manufacturer Rothmüller, Laufer & Co.) (OJ 5/38, [15], January 4, 1925); but by 1927 he was out-of-work, and in September Heinrich and Wilhelm were pursuing jobs for him at a furniture store, a motorcycle company, and other prospects. In October 1927 he was reported to be “halfway suited." In 1934 Heinrich inquired whether Tonerl and Karli had been caught up in the Austrian civil uprising of mid-February (OJ 5/38, [87], April 15, 1934). Finally we learn that Tonerl had become an officer in the Vienna police force (OC A/296, December 24, 1934).
After their mother’s death and that of Dodi Schenker in 1923, Wilhelm took primary responsibility for the upbringing of the two boys, with Heinrich advising, and brother Moriz (who died in 1936) and his wife Lisl supporting financially. Nothing is known of Tonerl’s life during World War II or the post-war period. He died in 1976, aged 68 or 69; his body is buried in the Vienna Simmering Evangelical Cemetery, group 13, row 11, grave 5.
Sources
- St. Pölten Catholic Church Records 1626–1955: Anton Schimatowitsch [Tonerl]
- St. Pölten Catholic Church Records 1626–1955: Karl Schimatowitsch [Karli]
Contributors
- Ian Bent and William Drabkin