RSSMaria von Trapp, the Last of the Famous Singing Siblings Made Famous in ‘The Sound of Music,’ Dies at Age 99
How very, very sad … The end of a singing family era … Maria von Trapp dies at the age of 99.
Maria von Trapp dies at her home in Vermont of natural causes at the age of 99. She was the last surviving member of the seven original Trapp Family Singers made famous in the 1965 movie, “The Sound of Music.” Maria von Trapp was the third child and second-oldest daughter of Austrian Naval Capt. Georg von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead von Trapp. Maria von Trapp was portrayed as Louisa in the film and musical. Maria was a missionary in New Guinea for 30 years. Maria Franziska von Trapp died on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 in Stowe, VT.
Maria Franziska von Trapp - Wiki
Georg von Trapp, born in 1880, became a national hero as a captain in the Austrian navy during World War I. He commanded submarines with valor and received the title of “Ritter” (the equivalent of the British baronet or “Sir,” but commonly translated as “Baron”) as a reward for his heroic accomplishments. Georg married Agathe Whitehead, the granddaughter of Robert Whitehead, the inventor of the torpedo, in 1912. They had seven children together: Rupert, 1911–1992 (Friedrich); Agathe, 1913–2010 (Liesl); Maria, 1914–2014 (Louisa) ; Werner, 1915–2007 (Kurt) ; Hedwig, 1917–1972 (Brigitta); Johanna, 1919–1994 (Marta); and Martina, 1921–1952 (Gretl).
Facebook – Trapp Family Lodge.
Half-brother Johannes von Trapp said in a statement.
“Maria had a wonderful life and we will miss her. The memories of her will live on.”
Born in 1914 in Zell Am See in the Austria Alps, Maria Franziska was the third of seven children of the aristocratic Georg von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead, who died in 1922.
As a child, Maria Franziska had scarlet fever, the same disease that killed her mother.
Maria Franziska von Trapp served as a lay missionary in Papua New Guinea, according to the Trapp Family Lodge website, before returning to Vermont to live. She is represented by Louisa, played by Heather Menzies-Urich, in the 1965 movie.
At the age of 97, she wrote fondly of her childhood memories and cleared up one myth from the movie. Capt. von Trapp did have a special whistle to call each of his children – but they didn’t see it as a strict measure for keeping discipline.
Pic – BBC: Maria von Trapp, third from left
Maria von Trapp, the last of the singing children immortalized in the movie musical “The Sound of Music,” died at her Vermont home of natural causes, her half-brother told CNN on Saturday.
The native of Austria was 99 and lived in Stowe. She died Tuesday.
Maria von Trapp was the third-oldest child of Agathe Whitehead and Capt. Georg von Trapp. The couple had seven children: Rupert, Agathe, Maria, Werner, Hedwig, Johanna and Martina.
Georg von Trapp’s second wife, Maria Kutschera von Trapp, wrote a book titled “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers,” which sparked two German-made movies and “The Sound of Music.”
So Long, Farewell …
On a personal note, if you ever make it to Stowe, Vermont, I strongly recommend that you visit the Trapp Family Lodge.
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4 Responses to “Maria von Trapp, the Last of the Famous Singing Siblings Made Famous in ‘The Sound of Music,’ Dies at Age 99”
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I stayed at the Trapp Family Lodge once years ago, maybe 35-40 years. It was lovely, although at that time there were not many amenities, i.e. TV. I think that lodge burned down.
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SM: Yes, I believe the original one did burn down. New one much better but meant to have the feel of an Austrian ski lodge.
http://www.trappfamily.com/
SM: You are correct regarding the original Von Trapp Family House burning down.
Let me assure you, in it’s place several years back a most beautiful and high end Luxury Resort was built in it’s place as I have stayed at both in the beautiful Town of Stowe, VT.
This is a sad day for the von Trapp family. I saw members of Maria’s family, and almost had the honor or meeting Maria herself, but she was not very ambulatory at the time and she rarely made appearances at the Lodge.
Red—Wasn’t it just lovely? And they tried very much to keep the integrity of the old Trapp Family Lodge in mind through the architecture of the new Resort. It’s beautiful, and simply a slice of Paradise. At a much higher cost than the old Lodge, and worth every single penny, IMO
NG Boston
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SM: I have skied many times in Stowe, VT in my younger days and have gone to the Von Trapp Family Lodge as if it were a museum. I had pics, before the days of digital cameras, and cannot seem to find them.
It is a slice of history.
R
Awww, what a Shame, RE: The pics. I love Stowe and it is a wonderful place that I share many, many fond memories of the Green Mountain State as well.
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Thanks, you two. It makes me want to head off to Vermont.