Obituary for Ernst Schönfelde

Ernst Schönfelder had close connections with the founding fathers of GVL, Hermann Voss and Rudolf Irmisch, and had been accompanying GVL since its early days. In his early 20ies, he was a witness of the founding conversations between Voss and Irmisch during their walks along the Alster and while visiting various Hamburg cafes. 

First and foremost, however, Ernst Schönfelder was a musician. At the age of 18, he began his career as a flutist in the Philharmonic State Orchestra Hamburg and remained very closely linked to it for 70 years, nearly an entire lifetime. 

“We say goodbye to a highly treasured companion and contemporary witness of GVL”, says Tilo Gerlach who was present during the funeral which took place in the inner circle only. “He was not only an outstanding musician but also an extremely inspiring intellectual who, even in his ripe age, actively took part in the events of his time and was closely connected to the young generation. Our thoughts are with his wife Sonia and his family. “