Hans Janitschek 1934 - 2008

Vienna born journalist, author, publisher, political official, supporter of writers, musicians and artists, Hans Janitschek died in New York on February 21 at the age of seventy-three. As of 1994 Janitschek was working out of New York as a correspondent covering the U.S. for Austria’s largest daily newspaper, the “Neue Kronen Zeitung.” His multi-faceted career as a once quoted “passionate intellectual and lively journalist” began in the 1950s in New York working for the news agencies, United Press and Reuters, followed by a return to Vienna as correspondent for “Kurier” and “Express.” In 1963 he joined the Austrian Foreign Service and was posted in N.Y. before returning once again to Austria in 1966 as an advisor to the late Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky. Three years later he became the Secretary General of the Socialist International in London (1969-1977) and worked closely with leaders of the international labor movement such as Brandt (Germany), Palme (Sweden), Soares (Portugal) and Mitterand (France), among others. By 1977 he joined the United Nations as advisor to the Secretary General and also served as President of the United Nations Society of Writers and Artists. As author, he wrote four biographies, including that of Mario Soares, Portugal’s former president, Hans Dichand, Austrian publisher, Oscar Arias, Nobel Prize winner, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and California governor. In a statement following news of his death, Austrian Federal Chancellor Gusenbauer said that Austria “loses one of the most renowned and unconventional journalists of the country, who represented Austria on an international level. He was also one of the most valuable points of contact in New York, who was capable of opening the doors to American politics.” Austrian Foreign Minister Plassnik described Janitschek as “an energetic and untiring representative for the interests of Austrians living abroad, not only in the U.S. but worldwide” while the “New York Times” claimed he “was an inspiration to countless people wherever he went during his full and exciting life.”