Traute Lafrenz Page M.D.
Traute Page could celebrate her 100th birthday on 3 May. She is in good health in every sense. During the Third Reich she was a member of the student group ''The White Rose"¹, of which she alone survives.
On her 100th birthday she was awarded Germany’s First Class Order of Merit. The German Foreign Office wrote on Twitter, «She is among the few who had the courage to stand up against the crimes of the National Socialists.»
In 1947 she moved from Germany to San Francisco to continue her medical training, later to Chicago.
Calmness, insight, experience
Traute Page spread warmth, human understanding and often humour in many circumstances. She made significant contributions during a time of transformation in the Anthroposophical Society in America. As of the late 1970s the work in America was divided into three regions. Each region formed a council: east, middle-west, west. The regional councils led to forming a national council of each region: for the West Rene Querido and Virginia Sease; Mid-West TrautePage and Werner Glas; East Dietrich von Asten, Henry Barnes and Carlo Pietzner.
The seven representatives met in February 1981 at the Center of the Anthroposophical Society in New York City. The first agenda item was crucial: the city of New York withdrew the taxexempt status of the building; taxation would be $ 20'000 yearly. The Council decided that the center of the Society would need to be sold! In this situation Traute Page contributed calmness, insight into the feelings of the members and experience with government regulations.
This difficult decision was placed before the membership at the Annual General Meeting in May 1981and the Council invited the Vorstand to participate in this meeting and the conference "Hearts are Beginning to Have Thoughts". The Goetheanum Vorstand came. Prior to the meeting both Council and Vorstand met concerning the future of Anthroposophy in the western part of the world. Today, only Traute Page and this contributor still are alive and could follow the significant developments and metamorphoses in the anthroposophical work from this pivotal moment 38 years ago.
Traute Page's tasks for the Society also include her time as Co-General Secretary at the end of the 1980s into the next decade. Until recently she visited the Goetheanum regularly and remains aware of the work world-wide.
Present at crucial turning points
This short retrospect also wishes to thank her for her work with the First Class of the School of Spiritual Science which inspired many people - young and old. It is a deep pleasure to extend heart-felt birthday greetings and good wishes to a special person whose life encompasses crucial turning points in the 20th century and into the 21st century.
¹ See "being human", ed. John Beck, quarterly publication of the Anthroposophical Society in America, Spring issue 2019