Samuel Robert (Bob) Splitter
| Born: |
04-24-1914 |
| Faculty: |
Medical School | Medical University Vienna |
| Category: |
Expelled student |
Samuel Robert (Bob) SPLITTER, born on April 24
th, 1914 in Krakow/Poland (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), son of Schyia / Joshua Splitter (merchant) and his wife Sara Marie, née Ebersohn and arrived in Vienna with his parents at three months old and lived in Vienna's 2
nd district, Praterstr. 60. Samuel Splitter was enrolled finally in the fall term 1937/38 at the Medical School in the 5
th and last year of his studies ('Absolutorium' was certified on September 12
th, 1938).
In 1938, after the takeover of power of National-Socialism he was forced to quit his studies for racist reason and to leave the University of Vienna.
In 1938 he married, still in Vienna, Ludwiga (Lucy) Sereth and they had to flee from Vienna. He succeeded to get to Switzerland and could finish his studies and graduate at the University of Lausanne.
When the war broke out, he was interned in a French detention camp for foreigners. Lucy sailed on the SS Champlain from Saint Nazaire, France on May 19
th, 1940 and arrived in New York City on May 27
th, 1940. Samuel Splitter lived in occupied France in Le Havre for a short time, then in Oporto/Portugal, before he succeeded to emigrate to the USA, too. He sailed with the
SS Nyssa on November 23
rd, 1940 from Lisbon/Portugal to the USA. On December 4
th, 1940 he arrived in New York City and reunited with his wife. He lived and worked as a physician in New York and he and his wife got three sons: Ron and in the beginning of 1948 the twin brothers Raymond (Ricky) and Randolph (Randy).
His own mother could escape from Vienna via Cuba to the USA, and his wife's parents could escape to Shanghai and came to the USA after the end of Second World War, too.
Samuel Robert and Lucy Splitter divorced in Alabama in June 1956 and he remarried in September 1956 the American born model Patricia Diane Shanley (1928-2000).
Soon after he sudden death in 2000 Samuel Robert (Bob) Splitter died on July 18
th, 2000 and was buried at Jewish cemetery in Santa Cruz and his epitaph reads, "Samuel Splitter | dedicated physician, lover of life, beloved husband and father".
Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") MED 1937-1938; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 480; information courtsey of George Fogelson, 01/2020.
Herbert Posch
