GstaadLife

by Taki Theodoracopulos

Why would a German playboy-billionaire industrialist with a large family and lots of old and good friends have dinner in Gstaad with one of his closest buddies, then go up to his chalet and put a bullet in his brain? The New York Times says Gunter Sachs had been diagnosed with an “incurable degenerative disease,” but I don’t think that fully explains his suicide. Gunter was always somewhat mysterious. I knew him since the late 50s. His maternal uncle, Fritz von Opel, was the heir to the Opel car fortune and lived the grand life in St Moritz and St Tropez, where he had opulent houses. Gunter’s father was also an industrialist and was probably richer than the Opels. Fritz von Opel’s son Rikky blew his share while Gunter’s side multiplied it. But his father did commit suicide, so escaping the claustrophobia of life and old age was in Gunter’s genes.

 
Gunter Sachs (1932-2011) (Keystone)

Gunter Sachs, the great grandchild of the founder of the car maker Opel, took his life in Gstaad on Saturday, May 7 2011. He was famous as one of the last real playboys, first entering the headlines when he had an affair with the former Iranian Queen Soraya Esfandiary and when he married the film star Brigitte Bardot in 1966. The marriage to the French film star lasted only three years after which he married his wife until his death, Swedish model Mirja Larsson. Gunter Sachs had three sons, two from his marriage with Mirja. Profesionally he gained international fame as a documentary filmmaker and photographer. He loved to collect art and was very interested in astrology. He had been a Swiss citizen since 1976 and was a much-loved resident of Gstaad. In his suicide note, which he wanted to be published (see after the jump, German only), he says that he realized during his last few months that he was falling ill with the "hopeless disease A." (Alzheimer's disease). He went on to say that the danger of losing his mental capacities would be an undignified condition which he decided to "meet resolutely". Our hearts go out to his family and friends.

 
Tuesday March 1 2011 around midday a group of three heliskiers was surprised by an avalanche on the Gstellihorn above Gsteig. The ski guide and one of the men were able to dig themselves out, but the third, Philippe Giesbrecht, was struck by falling debris and was buried. He was found and dug out with the help of the avalanche transeiver he was wearing, and was flown to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. GstaadLife.com offers its deepest condolences to his family and friends. The funeral will take place on Monday March 7 2011 in Saanen at 12h00.

by Gottfried von Siebenthal

On December 16 2010, 88 year-old film producer Blake Edwards died after severe illness in Santa Monica, USA. A good forty years ago, Blake Edwards came for the first time, together with his wife Julie Andrews and their five children, to Gstaad. Both were so enthralled with the village that two years later they bought their own chalet. For a few years, the three younger kids were sent to school in Saanenland, which made their contact to the village and its people all-the-more intensive.

by Diana Oehrli

Saanenland’s music community mourns the death of long-time Gstaad and Rougemont resident, musician, and impresario Connie Lane Anderson.

Two months after the Titanic sank and two years before the First World War began, Constance Lane was born in Hecla, South Dakota, USA, on June 22 1912. Although Hecla is defined as a city, its population was 295 in 2009, not much higher than it was in 1912. They didn’t stay there long.

Music is life - Alberto Lysy: February 11 1935 - December 30 2009

Alberto Lysy, distinguished concert violinist and revered teacher, died at the CHUV hospital in Lausanne on December 30 2009. Born in Buenos Aires on February 11 1935, Lysy was resident in Château-d’Oex. He was the founder of Camerata Bariloche, Camerata Lysy and Director of the International Menuhin Music Academy until 2008. We will miss him, may he rest in peace.

Family of Alberto Lysy and International Menuhin Music Academy, Gstaad

by Cristina del Amo

For me, October 30th has always been my Mother’s Birthday. This year, I cannot celebrate it, only commemorate it. My Mother, Jane del Amo, died May 4th, 2009. Family and Friends, you have your memories of her. For fans all over the world, as Jane Randolph, the Hollywood-Queen of the B movies, of Film Noir, she is immortal, as shown by the explosion of emails on the internet right after the «LA Times» published my Obituary for her on May 24th, 2009. For me, the memories are on many levels, as is always the case with a Daughter. This year, I would like to share some memories of a very special thing she and I shared: road trips!

Do you recognize the person and the place? It is a picture taken in September 1993 of Michael Jackson sitting on the little steps to the right of the old Pernet Comestibles shop. He was staying in the chalet of his friend Elizabeth Taylor at the time in order to recover from his tour and escape claims of child molestation. Well, both are no more - not the building nor the King of Pop, and we are like many others very sad to have lost such a great musician who also left his footprints in our village...

by Ruedy and Lesley Müllener

Sadly, we must take leave of one of Gstaad’s oldest and well loved residents. Although she had become frail, Jane Del Amo continued to live this life she loved to the full, keeping up with world affairs, music and the arts, and entertaining her numerous friends at her Chalet Jacriamo. As a founder member of the Eagle Ski Club, she skied with enthusiasm until well over ninety, and from then walked the countryside, where her extraordinary eye for colour was reflected in the countless lovely watercolour paintings she did and exhibited one year at the Gstaad Palace. A long time supporter of the Gstaad Open Tennis Tournament, Jane Del Amo never ceased to give generously. A benefactress of the Menuhin Music Festival, and the Friends of the Saanen Hospital, there were also many anonymous gestures of support to local causes. After a fall at home, a successful hip replacement was done at the Saanen Hospital, and she was soon up and walking with a "frame" in the corridors. However, with typical determination she then decided to get out of bed by herself, without calling a nurse – fell – and the other hip was broken. Although this further surgery was successful and she became aware … she then gently, and peacefully left this life on May 4 2009. Dearest Jane, we think of you with infinite affection and shall miss you, and everything you represented, very much and always.

After a short suffering in a clinic, the long-standing director and owner of the Institut Le Rosey died on March 20 aged 90. On March 31 mourning friends and members of the international Rosey family attended a wonderfully arranged farewell ceremony. Dr. Rolf P Steiger wrote the orbituary in the print edition of our sister publication, the Anzeiger von Saanen. For those of you who speak German, click here.