Baden-Baden in mourning: Kurt Hochstuhl, an honorary citizen, died!

Baden-Baden in mourning: Kurt Hochstuhl, an honorary citizen, died!

There is sadness in Baden-Baden: Kurt Hochstuhl, an influential figure in the city, has died at the age of 71. The sad news was announced by the Sandweier gymnastics club in 1907, which triggered a wave of regret among his friends, companions and the entire community. Hochstuhl was not only known as a lively part of the political landscape, but also as a recognized athlete and official.

“Kurt Hochstuhl was a pillar of our community and gave us all a lot with his tireless commitment,” says Mayor Dietmar Späth. He honors Hochstuhl's extensive work for the city and village life, which shaped him over many years. From 2010 to 2023 he was a member of the Baden-Baden municipal council and led his SPD parliamentary group there from 2014 to 2022. His work in local politics was also based on more than 30 years of voluntary work.

A life for handball

Kurt Hochstuhl will also be remembered as the long-time president of the South Baden Handball Association and an honorary member of the German Handball Federation (DHB). The DHB confirmed this in a statement of condolence. Hochstuhl was a driving force behind the merger of the southern German regional associations to form a unified Baden-Württemberg handball association and was intensively committed to German-French exchange in sport.

His path began at the Sandweier gymnastics club, where he took on various roles - from youth spokesman to coach to referee. From 1991 he was chairman of the Rastatt handball district, and from 2004 to 2019 he steered the fortunes of the South Baden handball association. During his time, he worked to build cross-border sporting relationships with Alsace, which led to numerous comparison games and training camps.

An educated man with great commitment

Hochstuhl was not only an athlete and politician, but also an educated historian. Born in 1954, he received his doctorate in history and worked as head of the state archives in Freiburg. He combined academic knowledge with his passionate commitment to sports and the community. He leaves behind his wife Doris, his sons David, Fabian and Yannick and their families.

Kurt Hochstuhl recently resigned from all of his local political honorary positions in order to allow himself more time for himself and his family in retirement. In the future, Paul Haußmann, an experienced SPD politician, will succeed him, which is viewed with anticipation in circles of political supporters.

Memories of Hochstuhl will be brought back by the official farewell on October 23, 2023 at the next local council meeting. His memory will live on in the hearts of the people he met and the community that he shaped for so many years with his work and passion.

Together we say goodbye to a person who enriched our environment with his commitment and warmth. Rest in peace, Kurt Hochstuhl.

For further information read also here: bnn.de, dhb.de, spd-baden-baden.de.