Austria Lugner farewell in the spotlight: "Goodbye, Richard Love"
As in his life, the dazzling Austrian property developer Richard Lugner was in the spotlight of cameras and flashbulbs even after his death, at least one last time: in accordance with his wishes, the memorial service in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna was staged a little like one of his beloved social events - with beauties and celebrities, interviews in the nave, close-ups and schmaltzy songs.
31.08.2024, 11:26
SDA
Lugner, the most famous visitor to the Vienna Opera Ball, died on August 12 at the age of 91. He always staged the announcement of the celebrities, whom he led onto the dance floor at the ball for a good fee, in his shopping center for advertising purposes. This year, Elvis' widow Priscilla Presley was at his side.
Lugner liked the term "socialite" and celebrated most of his six marriages in the public spotlight. This put him at the forefront of the Austrian celebrity scene and he was a permanent guest in gossip columns and tabloid programs.
At the public memorial service in St. Stephen's Cathedral, celebrities and politicians in black were joined by hundreds of onlookers holding up cell phones and filming.
"His soul will notice"
"We have tried to prepare everything so that he likes it," said cathedral priest Toni Faber in front of the cameras in the nave minutes before the start of the memorial service. "His soul will take note of this, and he will look down with a smile and accept it gratefully."
His sixth wife and widow Simone (42), who was only married to him for 72 days, arrived in a floor-length black dress with a gold belt. She was not seated with Lugner's daughter Jacqueline, who sat with her mother Christina Lugner, wife number four, in the front row on the right.
Lugner had been married to Christina for 17 years, a marriage that had obviously left a lasting impression on him. According to his wishes, the burial of the coffin was to take place at exactly 1.13 p.m. because 13 was his lucky number with Christina. The two had once said "I do" to each other at 13:13.
Ex-wives and ex-girlfriends attended the memorial service. Only Simone's predecessor, the German former Playboy model Kathy, had complained in the media that she had not been invited. The marriage had only lasted two years, from 2014 to 2016.
Music like at Princess Diana's funeral
In addition to Mozart, Austrian rock singer Dennis Jale, born Rainer-Dietfried Kaspar, also provided the musical backdrop. He sang a version of the Elton John song "Candle in the Wind", made world-famous by Elton John's personal performance at Princess Diana's funeral in London in 1997, with a moving, even schmaltzy voice. Jale sang: "Goodbye Richard Love". The fan polonaise, which opens the Opera Ball every year, was played on the way out of the church.
Lugner had requested a red coffin. This is the color of his shopping center Lugner City. His top hat lay on it. After the memorial service, he was driven through the streets of Vienna, past the opera house and Lugner's shopping center, to a more private funeral service.
