Angela Maria Von Courten

The spirit of Angela von Courten, 95 years young, was liberated from her worldly presence on June 27th, 2016.  Angela Maria Josefa Margareta von Courten was born on April 6, 1921 in Munich, Germany, into an artistic and intellectual atmosphere which would shape her passions throughout her life.

Angela's devotion to the spoken word and literature, appreciation of books, and independent thinking, were all modeled for her by her Mami, Aenne. 

Artistic presentation was evident in everything Angela touched, no doubt influenced by her father Louis, a watercolorist and architect.  On the occasion of her 16th birthday, her Papi presented her with a copy of Goethe's Faust.  Inside was her father's inscription:  "May art be a comfort and a joy throughout your whole life" (Angela's translation into English).  And she took his encouragement to heart.

She loved classical music, especially her beloved Beethoven and Mozart, and had a beautiful voice.  She loved to sing along with opera, as did her father.  For him it was Caruso, for her it became Pavarotti.  The legacy of multiple generations of artists who preceded her father included prominent paintings, sculpture and architectural landmarks in cities including Munich, Rome and Leningrad, at that time commissioned by the kings.  The family title of Count was bestowed in appreciation of such works, and yes, Angela was a Countess.  She relinquished her title when she became a U.S. citizen.  Angela found it amusing that, in the United States, people could simply be named "Duke" or "Queen".

Angela followed her artistic calling and entered the world of theater in Munich at the age of 15, a career which she actively pursued until marriage brought her to the US.  She was under contract in Vienna when World War II broke out, and described the fear of being a young 18 year old girl during blackout, walking home alone late at night with only a flashlight covered by a black cloth to guide her way.  She was profoundly affected by her Jewish neighbors who told her they had heard wonderful things about her performance, and wished they were allowed to attend the theater, and then crushed to see them being picked up as she came home one night.  And so political depravity pervaded all lives.  Angela's contract in Vienna was not renewed due to her failure to favor government officials, but she was able to return  home to Munich, and continue in the theater closer to home. 

Angela's family lived in the university community of Schwabing, comparable to Greenwich Village in New York City.  Her community was multi-cultural, free-thinking, of varied lifestyles and religions, and compatible with the cultures of Berkeley and Davis where she lived later in her life.

During the war years which followed, she experienced many friends, neighbors, and colleagues suffer the consequences of the Nazis.  To the end of her life, she had an aversion to March music (which was force-fed at the time) and blind nationalistic thinking, for these were symbols of how she her beloved country underwent an unimaginable transformation.  She was forever aware that such things can happen anywhere (and even this past June, she made SURE her absentee ballot was signed and ready to go the day PRIOR to election day!).

The course of the war included acts of kindness. One day a neighbor offered a little extra space on a truck to evacuate a few possessions to the country.  Angela quickly told her family, and in minutes they were able to load up a few treasured items.  Those items became their only belongings to survive the war.  A fire-bomb landed in their 5th floor apartment, and all else was lost, especially heartbreaking - her mother's treasured library.

The balance of the war was spent in the small town of Miesbach, outside Munich, in a room in the home of her father's 2 sisters, Marietta and Elizabeth.  There were many stories, of alternating flags that were displayed as one army after another passed through, of young girls hiding in the attic from the soldiers, of air raid shelters and friends lost, of the uniforms of young German soldiers who had deserted their army clogging the brook behind the home, and of hunger, shootings, looting and anger, revenge and misunderstandings that affect all experiencing war.   And in the end - following the inhumanity - the possibility of peace for those who survived.  Angela remained resolute in her commitment to peace.

Our father came to Bavaria as a US soldier, assigned to fulfill the Marshall Plan and aid in the  transition of Germany back to local government. (Though originally from Hamburg, Germany, he had fled Germany, become a US citizen, joined the US army, and went back to Germany in military intelligence.)  The target plan of course did not originally include meeting Angela with her sister Gaby at the movie theater!  Angela also worked at Radio Munich for a time, Werner and Angela married, and after a period in Nuernberg where our father was an interpreter at the trials, they boarded a rolling ship without stabilizers for the long, turbulent ride across the Atlantic, even more miserable due to morning sickness (Yvonne's fault!).  Our mom told us that, because they were both naturalized citizens, they wanted to make sure that their children would be born in the United States.

A brief stay in New York followed, and then on to yet-unknown California for Angela.  Yvonne was born 4 months after her arrival in Alameda, and Ilonka arrived 5 years later.  Angela had quickly become fluent in English, and remained a stickler for perfect grammar!  Somehow we survived the initial real candles on the Christmas tree!, and our home became a wonderful blend of European and American traditions - the best of both worlds.

               
Soon Angela and Werner were able to build and move into their dream home in the Berkeley Hills, which they had adapted from a Sunset Magazine blueprint.  And a beautiful upside-down redwood house it was, with bedrooms downstairs, and beautiful views of San Francisco, from the Golden Gate Bridge down to the Peninsula.  We were raised in that country setting (a little less quaint these days), and our parents teamed up to work hard, offer California charm and hospitality to their visitors, and achieve the American dream.

 
With the 60s, came big changes for Angela:  a life on her own, new friends, going back to school to study history and language, and then her adventurous move to the new Dos Pinos Cooperative in Davis in 1985.  She threw her energy into her new life.  Decorating, swimming, cooperative job and lifestyle - it all suited her well and she embraced it enthusiastically.  Over time, the town of Davis has changed and grown, people have come and gone, but her Dos Pinos community has endured and we like to think that our mother's passion and spirit had something to do with that!

 
Evenings at her home were always warm and cozy.  She always made time for genuine conversation, and the little ones all had their turns with the precious cradle which she had rescued and brought from Germany.  Our Angela/Mommy/Omi always saw the beauty in small details, and by taking the time to make things look beautiful, taught us to see through her eyes.  Her patience and magic touch continued in the kitchen and, to answer a frequent  question, despite being a lifelong vegetarian, she cooked meat and fish to perfection!

 
And here we are, 30 years later.  Our family has blossomed from Angela and Werner's family of 4, to include 4 grandchildren (Javier, Israel, Yolanda & Cody), and 10 great-grandchildren (Soulee, Marcelo, Maricela (Mari), Gabriella (Gaby), Ava, Jordan, Tureygua (Tutu), Pearl, Levi and Zion) - so far!

Angela lived her life true to herself and to what she felt was just, without compromise, even in the face of challenge.  Never the victim of convention, Angela had flair, enjoyed life, and pursued it with gumption, apparent to all who had the good fortune to know her!

To the many that she touched, and in honor of so many who touched her: it is our hope that sparks of inspiration from her compassionate light, her truly caring and generous nature, her romantic, playful, clever and imaginative spirit, and the fire of her enthusiasm will be carried forth in her honor.

 
We love and miss her terribly, and hope to represent her well.

With love, Angela's daughters, Yvonne and Ilonka.