Dietlinde von Kuenssberg Jehle Raisig

Dietlinde von Kuenssberg Jehle Raisig

Dietlinde von Kuenssberg Jehle Raisig, 94, of Ruckersville, Virginia, and Williamsville, New York, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in Williamsville, New York.

She was born May 3, 1915, in Heidelberg, Germany, the daughter of former Heidelberg University Law Professor, Baron Eberhard von Kuenssberg and Dr. Katharina von Kuenssberg.

Dietlinde is survived by her loving children, Dr. Dietrich Jehle of Williamsville, New York and his wife, Theresa, and Eberhard Jehle of Charlottesville, Virginia; and five grandchildren, Katharina, Christopher, Zachary, Gabrielle and Alexandra.

She completed her undergraduate studies in Innsbruck, Berlin, and Heidelberg Universities. Dieta went on to receive her Doctorate in German Literature in 1939 from Heidelberg University. She emigrated from Nazi Germany to England in 1939, and during World War II she completed additional post graduate studies at Oxford University. On arrival to the United States in 1946, she taught Germanic Studies at Brown University, then Indiana University, University of Nebraska and finally the University of Virginia.

Dietlinde's first husband, Dr. Herbert Jehle who passed away in 1983, was a renowned Physics Professor at Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, The Princeton Institute, University of Nebraska, George Washington University, University of Maryland, University of Amsterdam and the University of Munich. His later interests in Biophysics lead him to work on the DNA decoding project with Linus Pauling at Cal Tech and Marshall Nirenberg at the NIH. Dietlinde's second husband, Dr. Miles Raisig who passed away in April 2009, served as a Librarian at Yale University and University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

In her youth, Dietlinde was the City of Heidelberg's Women's Tennis Champion and an avid skier. Her experiences in Nazi Germany made her a strong advocate for the Civil Rights Movement and the Peace Movement long before either cause became popular. She has been a supporter of the Arts, leader of the Charlottesville Friends Meeting and Honorary Lifetime Member of the American Association of University Women.

Dietlinde was a kind, fun loving, athletic lady who was still playing tennis with her grandchildren at age 87. Her warm smile and engaging eyes will never be forgotten.

Contributions in Dietlinde's memory may be made to Charlottesville Friends Meeting, 1104 Forest Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903. Condolences can be sent to Dr. Dietrich Jehle, 36 Deer Run Court, Williamsville, New York 14221.

Friends are welcome to attend a memorial service for Dieta, 12:30 p.m. Sunday July 19, 2009, at the Charlottesville Friends Meeting, 1104 Forest Street, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.