Friedrich Schiller (†78) dead: Vienna Society legend has died

In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Schiller was regarded as a fixture of the domestic society scene. He was a regular and prominent presence at VIP events in Vienna and was part of the familiar face of the domestic celebrity scene for many years. Internationally, too, he was regarded as a well-known society personality of Austria.

Final appearance at the Alte Donau

Schiller's last public appearance was just a few days before his death. On June 8, he had attended Christina Lugner's birthday party at the Strandcafé on the Alte Donau. On that occasion, Schiller told the Austrian outlet oe24 that he was satisfied with his condition. He said: „Mir geht es gut und ich freue mich immer, wenn ich ein bisschen rauskomme.

Until 2022, Schiller appeared in public together with his wife Jeannine Schiller. The couple counted for a long time among the best-known pair appearances of Viennese society. In recent years, Jeannine Schiller had increasingly withdrawn from public life.

Years at his wife's side

Friedrich Schiller had spoken openly about his wife's illness. Jeannine Schiller developed dementia and became a person in need of care. During this time, Friedrich Schiller spent most of his time at his wife's side, caring for her.

The Kommerzialrat had lived for many years in a villa in Vienna's 13th municipal district, which was considered his main residence. Even after his gradual withdrawal from public life, the villa remained his center of life, where he most recently lived with his wife.

With Schiller's death, the Viennese society scene loses one of its most defining figures of recent decades. Beyond his entrepreneurial work as a children's fashion entrepreneur and his role in the domestic celebrity world, Schiller was appreciated above all for his devotion to his wife and his appearances at selected VIP events.

Reactions from the society scene

The news of his death triggered dismay in the Austrian media and in the Viennese society scene. Memories of his appearances, including those alongside his wife at past Lugner birthday parties, were widely shared on social media.

Schiller, the Vienna-born entrepreneur and Kommerzialrat, is survived by his wife Jeannine. His work as a children's fashion entrepreneur and his decades-long presence in domestic society remain associated with his name.