Kurt Glaser

Kurt GLASER, born on February 16^th, 1915 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Innsbruck/Austria, citizenship 1938: Austria), was the son of Richard Glaser (merchant, 1887-1939) and Alice Hedwig, née Gans-Schiller (1889-1982). In August 1933 he moved from Innsbruck to Vienna and lived at several adresses – initially in Vienna's 19^th district, Lammerstrasse 14, by the end of 1935 for a short time in Vienna's 9^th district, Widerhofergasse 8/5, in 1936 in Vienna 9^th district, Müllnergasse 6/33 and from July 1937 until June 1938 in Vienna 9^th district, Müllnergasse 14/22. He earned his living by tutorin high shool pupils.
He had been a demonstrator aspirant at the I. Anatomische Lehrkanzel (Prof. Schmeidel) since October 1935 and had been appointed demonstrator from October 1936 to October 1938 (the last year with pay) and was last enrolled at the Medical School in the spring term 1938 in the 5^th and last year of his studies.
He had already taken the first viva voce on March 2^nd, 1936, was about to graduate and take the second and third of the final examinations ("Rigorosen"), but after the Anschluss in March 1938 was initially not allowed to continue his studies, but then late in the spring term of 1938 was able to continue his studies for at least two months within the framework of the 2% numerus clausus for Jewish students, but was then forced for racist reasons to finally discontinue his studies and leave the University of Vienna ("Absolutorium" was certified on June 30^th, 1938).

He moved to Linz in June 1938 for a short time and then lived in Vienna's 14^th district, Kauergasse 2/2/32 in June/July 1938, before he emigrated to Switzerland, where he was able to continue his studies at the University of Lausanne and graduated in 1939.
His father Richard Glaser (1887-1939) was executed at the Vienna Regional Court on September 8^th, 1939.

Later Kurt Glaser emigrated from Switzerland to the USA, where he completed an internship training at St. Mary’s of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago, IL, in 1941, followed by residency training at Jewish Hospital and General Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. He received additional residency training in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee and Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Besides, Glaser taught at the Chicago College of Medicine of the University of Illinois from 1945 and at the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem from 1950 on.

In 1954 Kurt Glaser became associate professor of pediatrics and assistant professor of psychiatry at Maryland (until 1965). He was also head of the mental hygiene clinic for children in Maryland from 1957 to 1961. Other professional appointments included clinical director for the Rosewood Center in Owings Mills and director of adolescent services at Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville (1961-1972), assistant professor in pediatrics and psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (1972-1981), and psychiatrist at Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital (1981-1985).

Kurt Glaser was married to Susanne Stein (1923-2002), they had four sons: Richard Glaser, Dr. Benjamin Glaser, Dr. David Glaser and Dr. Dan Glaser.
Since 1993 he lived in a retirement community in Sykesville, MD.

Dr. Kurt Glaser died on November 13^th, 2009, in Sykesville, Maryland/USA.

Lit.: Archives of the University of Vienna/enrollment ("Nationale") PHIL 1937-1938; Archive Forum Zeigeschichte: E-mail Kurt GLASER from September 22^nd, 2002; Vienna City Archives WStLA/Historical Central Registration of Viennese inhabitants; obituary by the Medical Alumni Association of the University of Maryland 2009; obituary by Frederick N. Rasmussen in the Baltimore Sun; obituary in The New York Times; USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, University of Southern California, Interview 36054; Austrian Heritage Collection at Leo Baeck Institute New York [AHC 917]; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 392.

Herbert Posch