Rupert von Trapp
Encyclopedia
Rupert Georg von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music
. He was portrayed as the character "Friedrich".
during World War I
with his siblings, Agathe von Trapp
(1913–2010), Maria Franziska von Trapp
(1914), Werner von Trapp
(1915–2007), Hedwig von Trapp
(1917–1972), and Johanna von Trapp
(1919–1994).
The youngest sister, Martina von Trapp
(1921–1951), was born in Klosterneuburg (Austria), whither the Trapp Family had moved from Zell-am-See because their home (a "lake hotel" called "Kitzsteinhorn") had been flooded. Before living in the hotel, the von Trapp Family lived on a farm called "Erlhof" near Agathe Whitehead, von Trapp's mother, and her sisters.
In 1922, von Trapp's mother died of scarlet fever and was buried in Klosterneuburg. Von Trapp was nearly eleven years old. In 1925, the von Trapp family moved to Salzburg-Aigen. Von Trapp entered a public school, together with Werner; his sisters went to the Ursuline covent.
In 1927, his father, Georg Ludwig von Trapp, married Maria Augusta Kutschera, the teacher of von Trapp's sisters Maria Franziska and Johanna. Georg and Maria Augusta had three children together: Rosemarie von Trapp (1928), Eleonore von Trapp (1931), and Johannes von Trapp
(1939). Rupert studied medicine and became an Austrian citizen. His hobby was to play the accordion
and the piano
. Later, in the family chorus, he sang bass. In 1938 he had a possibility of a job in Vienna but refused because the job was being taken away from a Jewish doctor by the Nazis. The family left Austria in summer of this year and went to America. Rupert was now in his middle-twenties. He went on tour with his siblings and his stepmother, and entered the army, together with Werner in 1942. Rupert and Werner eventually served in Italy with the renowned 10th Mountain Division.
In 1947 he married Henriette Lajoie, with whom he later had six children, and left the family chorus. In the same year, he graduated from The University of Vermont. Von Trapp became a naturalized United States citizen
in 1948.
Von Trapp died in 1992 at the age of 80 and was buried at the Lodge in Vermont
, next to his father, his stepmother, and his siblings: Werner, Hedwig, and Martina.
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
. He was portrayed as the character "Friedrich".
Biography
He was born on November 1, 1911. His parents married either in January 1911 or January 1912. His father was Georg Ludwig von Trapp, his mother Agathe Whitehead (1891–1922). Von Trapp grew up in Zell am SeeZell am See
Zell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The city has about 10,000 inhabitants.Zell am See is a tourist destination and a transportation hub for the region...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
with his siblings, Agathe von Trapp
Agathe von Trapp
Agathe Johanna Erwina Gobertina von Trapp was the eldest daughter of Georg von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music...
(1913–2010), Maria Franziska von Trapp
Maria F. von Trapp
Maria Agatha Franziska Gobertina von Trapp is the second-oldest daughter of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and Agatha Whitehead von Trapp. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the musical play The Sound of Music...
(1914), Werner von Trapp
Werner von Trapp
Werner Ritter von Trapp was the second-oldest son of Georg Ritter von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead. He was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
(1915–2007), Hedwig von Trapp
Hedwig von Trapp
Hedwig Maria Adolphine Gobertina von Trapp was the fifth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead . She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
(1917–1972), and Johanna von Trapp
Johanna von Trapp
Johanna Karolina von Trapp was the sixth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead . She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music. She was portrayed as the character "Marta".-Early life:Johanna was...
(1919–1994).
The youngest sister, Martina von Trapp
Martina von Trapp
Martina von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers and was the seventh child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
(1921–1951), was born in Klosterneuburg (Austria), whither the Trapp Family had moved from Zell-am-See because their home (a "lake hotel" called "Kitzsteinhorn") had been flooded. Before living in the hotel, the von Trapp Family lived on a farm called "Erlhof" near Agathe Whitehead, von Trapp's mother, and her sisters.
In 1922, von Trapp's mother died of scarlet fever and was buried in Klosterneuburg. Von Trapp was nearly eleven years old. In 1925, the von Trapp family moved to Salzburg-Aigen. Von Trapp entered a public school, together with Werner; his sisters went to the Ursuline covent.
In 1927, his father, Georg Ludwig von Trapp, married Maria Augusta Kutschera, the teacher of von Trapp's sisters Maria Franziska and Johanna. Georg and Maria Augusta had three children together: Rosemarie von Trapp (1928), Eleonore von Trapp (1931), and Johannes von Trapp
Johannes von Trapp
Johannes von Trapp is a former member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
(1939). Rupert studied medicine and became an Austrian citizen. His hobby was to play the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. Later, in the family chorus, he sang bass. In 1938 he had a possibility of a job in Vienna but refused because the job was being taken away from a Jewish doctor by the Nazis. The family left Austria in summer of this year and went to America. Rupert was now in his middle-twenties. He went on tour with his siblings and his stepmother, and entered the army, together with Werner in 1942. Rupert and Werner eventually served in Italy with the renowned 10th Mountain Division.
In 1947 he married Henriette Lajoie, with whom he later had six children, and left the family chorus. In the same year, he graduated from The University of Vermont. Von Trapp became a naturalized United States citizen
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
in 1948.
Von Trapp died in 1992 at the age of 80 and was buried at the Lodge in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, next to his father, his stepmother, and his siblings: Werner, Hedwig, and Martina.
External links
- The Homepage from the Trapp Family
- Information about the Trapp Family at The National Archives
- Rupert von Trapp at Findagrave