Farewell to Lugner

“Mausi” Lugner: “Richard was the man of my life”

Ex-wife Cathy Lugner was shocked, Christina "Mausi" Lugner says of Richard Lugner: "He was my life person."

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Starpix/picturedesk.com, Viennareport)

The shock after the death of Richard Lugner is profound. Not only society but the whole of Austria is mourning the Opernball zampano. Mörtel's ex-wives are also struggling to find words for the great loss. "He was the man of my life," explained "Mausi" Lugner on Monday, deeply saddened.

On Monday afternoon, Christina "Mausi" Lugner still can't believe that the bustling Opera Ball zampano is no longer with us. After all, she had still heard from him on Sunday, as she explained in a statement to "Krone".

"Richard was the man of my life"
"We spoke on the phone yesterday and he reprimanded me for the birthday speech," she revealed, visibly saddened by the death of her ex-husband. Mörtel was due to celebrate his 92nd birthday on October 11 and preparations for the celebration were apparently already underway.

She was supposed to shoo the photographers away from the podium during the speech because otherwise the guests wouldn't be able to see anything, "Mausi" continued. "And then he told me what he would like to see in the speech."

Were close friends until the end: Richard Lugner and his ex-wife Christina Lugner, who lost her "life person"

(Bild: picturedesk.com/Starpix)

Richard Lugner with his ex-wives Kathi and Christina

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Starpix/picturedesk.com, Viennareport)

"I learned so much from him, he relied on me so much and put his trust in me," said "Mausi". As an example, she cited the partial purchase of the radio station "Radio CD" broadcasting from Bratislava, which he had acquired because of her affinity for presenting. "'You'll learn it,' he told me. He always believed in me," Lugner recalled.

The grief for her ex-husband is therefore immeasurable, "Mausi" continued. "Richard was my great role model and man of life, I owe him a lot." 

"You leave a big gap"
And concluded: "Rest in peace, dear Richard, you leave a big gap, we miss you immensely!"

But it's not just "Mausi" Lugner who is mourning the loss of the Opera Ball zampano. Cathy Lugner, who was married to Mörtel from 2014 to 2016, also expressed her shock at the death of her ex-husband on Monday. 

Cathy Lugner was also deeply shocked by the death of her ex-husband Richard Lugner.

(Bild: Peter Tomschi)

"Oh God, I have to process this first," she told the "Krone" newspaper. Because: "Despite his age, I wouldn't have expected this. It was a real shock."

But it's not just society that is mourning Richard Lugner. The news of the legendary master builder's death triggered numerous reactions within a short space of time on Monday. Celebrities from politics and business paid great respect to the "Austrian original".

Cause of death not yet known
Richard Lugner died on Monday at the age of 91 in his villa in Vienna's Döbling district. A rescue operation had been carried out there earlier. As the "Krone" learned, attempts were made to revive the society lion - in vain. The cause of death is not yet known.

As photos showed, the access road to the Lugner villa in the Untersievering district of Döbling was cordoned off on Monday morning and only relatives and direct neighbors were allowed to drive through. By midday on Monday, the car of a funeral home had already driven up. Some family members had also arrived at the estate. 

Opernball zampano and society icon
Richard Lugner was an integral part of Viennese society. He was always in conversation with the star guests in particular, whom he brought to the Opera Ball every year for a lot of money.

Christina "Mausi" Lugner was married to Richard Lugner from 1991 to 2007. The couple have a daughter together with Jacqueline. Lugner's marriage to Cathy Lugner lasted just 809 days.