Remembering a beloved Hamburg personality, the Loki-Schmidt-Schule stands here. It wasn’t always named this. This primary school was once known as Schule Othmarscher Kirchenweg. But since August 2012, it proudly carries the name of Loki Schmidt.
Who was Loki Schmidt? Hannelore Glaser was born in Hamburg in 1919. Early on, she gave herself the nickname “Loki.” Growing up in humble circumstances, the eldest of four siblings often cared for the younger ones. Her father, a shipyard electrician, became unemployed in 1931. Her mother earned their living as a seamstress.
The young Hannelore attended both primary and higher schools. Both schools followed reform pedagogies. From 1929 to 1937, she attended the Lichtwarkschule. Here, she met her future husband Helmut Schmidt. The National Socialists closed the Lichtwarkschule for political reasons. Hannelore completed her education at the Klosterschule. She wanted to study biology after school. High tuition fees made that impossible. She then trained as a primary school teacher.
From 1940 to 1971, Hannelore worked as a teacher. She taught at seven Hamburg schools. Among them was the Schule Othmarscher Kichenweg. This school has been the Loki-Schmidt-Schule since August 2012. This honor wasn’t the only one for the popular Hanseatic citizen. Her many years as an amateur botanist led her to discover a bromeliad species. She found it on a trip to Mexico. It now bears her name, along with other plants and even a scorpion.
Hannelore and Helmut Schmidt married in 1942. Their marriage lasted almost 70 years. They had two children. One child died in its first year.
After the war, Helmut Schmidt returned from British captivity. Hannelore earned the family’s income as a teacher. Helmut, a few months older, studied economics at the University of Hamburg. He completed his studies in 1949. He then began his career in the city’s public service. Eventually, he became Chancellor of Germany from 1974 to 1982.
During that time, Loki Schmidt did much for plant and nature conservation. Since 1976, she undertook various, self-financed research trips. She did them with the Max Planck Society. Her work brought her much attention and many honors.
In 1997, she received an honorary doctorate from the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. In 2000, she received an honorary doctorate from the Department of Biology at the University of Hamburg. She also received an honorary professorship in 1999. Then she received the German Environmental Prize in 2004. For Loki Schmidt herself, the greatest honor was honorary citizenship of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
Since 2012, the New Botanical Garden of the University of Hamburg in Klein Flottbek has been called the Loki-Schmidt-Garten.
Even during Loki Schmidt’s lifetime, a monument was erected to her. The sculptor Manfred Sihle-Wessel created a bronze head of Loki Schmidt in 2005. It stands on a stone stele near the entrance of the Loki-Schmidt-Garten. Her name “Loki Schmidt” is engraved in the stone. The botanist herself chose the location.
Loki Schmidt died on October 21, 2010, in Hamburg. Around 2,000 guests attended her funeral. Many came from politics. She was cremated and buried in the Ohlsdorf Cemetery.
So as you pass by the Loki-Schmidt-Schule remember the woman. She was a teacher, botanist, and conservationist. She left a lasting impact on Hamburg and beyond. The school’s commitment extends beyond academics. It includes all-day care. This ensures children are supported from early morning to late afternoon. The Loki-Schmidt-Schule ensures a nurturing environment.