Dési von Halban

Désirée Louise Anna Ernestine "Dési" von Halban (10 April 1912 – 12 February 1996) was an Austrian opera and concert singer. She was the daughter of Austrian operatic soprano Selma Kurz and gynecologist Josef von Halban.

Dési von Halban
Dési von Halban in 1946
Born(1912-04-10)10 April 1912
Vienna, Austria-Hungary
Died12 February 1996(1996-02-12) (aged 83)
Bilthoven, Netherlands
NationalityAustrian
OccupationOpera and concert singer
Spouse(s)
Jacques Goudstikker
(m. 1937; died 1940)

August von Saher (m. 1950)
ChildrenEdouard von Saher (b. 1939)
Parent(s)Josef von Halban and Selma Kurz

Dési von Halban was married to Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker who fled the Nazis in 1940, but died on-board the SS Bodegraven while passing the English Channel. His wife and infant son, Edouard, made their way to New York City, via Montreal.[1] His art collection was looted by the Nazis, and returned in 2006 only after a lengthy legal dispute.[2]

Halban remarried in 1950, to twice-divorced Dutch lawyer August von Saher.[3] Her son adopted his stepfather's surname.[4] He married Marei Langenbein, a West German figure skater. Their daughter, Charlene von Saher, became a competitive figure skater.[5]

The physicist Hans von Halban was her second cousin.

References
  1. "Seized, Reclaimed and Now on View". New York Times. April 27, 2008.
  2. "Dutch to Return Art Seized by Nazis". New York Times. February 7, 2006.
  3. Alexander, Ilonka Venier (2015). The Life and Times of Franz Alexander: From Budapest To California. Karnac. pp. 56–59. ISBN 978-1-78181-509-0.
  4. "Heirs Claim Art Lost To Nazis in Amsterdam; Another Collection Joins the Disputes Over Who Owns War's Cultural Booty". New York Times. January 12, 1998.
  5. "A British Figure Skater With Roots in Greenwich". New York Times. January 23, 1994.
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