Dietlind “Linde” Heintz
Dietlind “Linde” Heintz, age 88, died on July 10, 2019. Linde was born in Kraliky, Czech Republic, in 1930. At the end of World War II, her family left their home and fled to Vienna, Austria. She and her sister lived in a children’s home sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee for the next few years until her parents were able to secure an apartment adequate to house them as a family. After high school, Linde attended a textile school and worked in the textile industry.
She met her husband, Wulff, through her brother Gerald, when both young men were members of the chess club at their university in Würzburg, Germany. The long-distance courtship included letters to and from Australia where Wulff was a post-doctorate fellow. In 1957, they were married in Vienna in St. Stephen’s cathedral and she joined her new husband in Munich, Germany.
Her daughter Ruth was born in 1965 and son Robert in 1967. That same year, the family first came to Swarthmore, settling here permanently in 1970. Aside from learning English beyond what she had been taught in school, Linde’s most important undertaking was learning to drive.
The family moved into a college-owned apartment building at 317 North Chester Road in 1971 and lived there for the next five years, then moved to Riverview Road. Linde often said that she learned how to get along with other people while living at “317.”
The Heintz family joined the Swarthmore Swim Club in the early 1970s and Linde swam laps all summer long, even preferring not to leave town during the summer so she could swim every fair weather day. She earned the 1000-lap T-shirt for decades (and her 50-mile pin in a number of years), the last in 2018, despite having hip-replacement surgery that spring.
Linde travelled to Austria and Germany almost every year to visit her large extended family. Her cousins, nieces, and nephews, and all of their children, and friends of all ages received birthday cards every year without fail. She wrote long letters in German, and proudly displayed all of her Christmas cards from family and friends all over the world, having dispatched just as many herself. The photos she received in these cards were placed in numerous photo albums which she treasured along with her books. Linde was an avid reader and every year would read a book by the new Nobel laureate for literature.
Linde took great pleasure in her friends. At every opportunity, she met up with one or more friends for coffee in the afternoon. The group of ladies eventually called themselves the Kaffee Klatsch, and became lifelong friends. As older members moved away or passed on, their group was replenished with new friends.
The birth of Ruth’s son Max and daughter Mica filled her with joy. She loved her role as “Oma,” and spending time in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, helping Ruth and her husband Mike and watching her grandchildren grow. She also relished her visits to Robert and his wife Ann near Boston, taking advantage of that city’s culture.
When the family first moved to Swarthmore, neighbors and new friends helped her in countless ways; she repaid this kindness with her readiness to help anyone. Her generous spirit drew many loyal friends to her.
Linde was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia on May 1 of this year. The sudden onset and severity of the condition left everyone in shock. We all thought she would beat this. Despite the excellent medical care and a steely determination, the woman we thought would outlive us all passed away. Her family is extremely grateful to her many friends for their love, help and support during those last months.
A celebration of Linde will be held at the Friends Meeting House on the Swarthmore College campus on Sunday, November 10, at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers we ask that donations be made to the American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102, or to the charity of your choice.
