Wolfgang O. Wittkowski

Wolfgang Wittkowski, born on August 15th, 1925 in Halle an der Saale in Germany, crossed over on April 21, 2022 at his home in Albany, New York.

Wolfgang was forced to serve as a teenage German soldier in World War ll and became a champion swimmer and a teacher of physical education and German. He married Maria Jokiel, and with their four children they immigrated to the U.S. when he accepted a teaching position at Ohio State University in 1963.

Professor Dr. Wittkowski was a globally celebrated expert in classical German literature and philosophy. During his tenure at OSU and SUNY Albany he published and lectured extensively, hosted symposiums, and was an outspoken political activist. His life's work was based on ethics as taught by his beloved teacher Nicolai Hartmann, and centered around explaining the meaning of the works of Goethe, Schiller, Buechner and Hebbel.

Wolfgang Wittkowski is survived by his wife, Charlotte Koerner, and his children Mechtild Wittkowski, Kani Witt, Isa Maria, and Josh Martin, as well as his grandchildren Woody, Laurel, and Annie Graefe and Jesse Wittkowski. He was incredibly well loved and cared for by his devoted caregiver Regina Goodbee and her excellent team, Sinia, Dashell, and Ty.

To honor the legacy of Dr. Wittkowski, donations may be made to one of the two organizations that have preserved it. The Albany Book Rescue distributed his published scholarly works and hundreds of his volumes on German history, literature and culture to the German American Club of Albany and to individuals passionate about these areas of study. Please contact Adam Heller to donate, purchase a book from Wittkowski's library, or attend his estate sale: (914)714-9712.

Professor Randall Auxier of the American Institute for Philosophical and Cultural Thought has curated a library of Dr. Wittkowski's published works and prized private collection. Visit americanphilosophy.net. Checks are payable to: AIPCT, 411 N. 9th St., Murphysboro, IL 62966.