Dr. Rudolf Dirisamer 1946 - 2025

The Sigmund Freud Museum is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Dr. Rudolf Dirisamer.

From 2013-2016, Rudi Dirisamer was Chairman of the Board of the Sigmund Freud Foundation, which operates the Sigmund Freud Museum. He had been a member of the foundation's board since its establishment in 2003, in which he played a key role.

A sociologist by training, he initially worked as an expert in urban planning and as a lecturer at several Viennese universities. He spent the majority of his professional life in management positions at Zentralsparkasse and its successor company Bank Austria. From 1992, when he was appointed to the board of the Sigmund Freud Society, he brought his diverse experience - including as managing director of the Bank Austria Kunstforum - to Berggasse 19. In this role, he worked on a voluntary basis and energetically to raise awareness of the life and work of the founder of psychoanalysis.                     

In his more than three decades of commitment to the Sigmund Freud Museum, Rudolf Dirisamer played a key role in shaping the institution at Berggasse 19 into the internationally networked cultural and discourse platform that it is today. From the establishment of the Sigmund Freud Foundation, he managed in particular the economic and legal aspects of the foundation and served as a stable anchor even in challenging times. His prudence and strategic vision kept Berggasse 19 on course even during periods of upheaval, such as the establishment of the foundation in 2003 and the preparatory work for the renovation completed in 2020. From 2013 to 2016, Rudolf Dirisamer was Chairman of the Board of the Sigmund Freud Foundation. His successes and achievements during these years laid the foundation for today's work, which he after leaving the Board continued to support in the role of Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board.  The intellectual exchange with a versatile, humorous and educated friend will be missed, as will his strategically adept and competent advice. Dr. Rudolf Dirisamer was 78 years old.

Dr. Franz Jurkowitsch, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Sigmund Freud Foundation

Peter Nömaier, Monika Pessler, Dr. Daniela Finzi, Board of the Sigmund Freud Foundation