James Sunley writes: It is with a very heavy heart I write to let you know our dear Adolf celebrated his 91st birthday with 100 close friends before peacefully calling his final Terminato.
All of us will have a firework of memories and untold stories of a truly extraordinary Member. Eccentric he might have been, but Adolf was infinitely loyal to our Club; he reminded us all what it is to be human, what it is to be a great Cresta rider, and above what it is to be a proud Member of the St Moritz Tobogganing Club.
RIP my friend, the whole Club salutes you and will toast your memory with a massive Firework as soon as we are all together again in St Moritz.
Moritz, the Producer of the original Adolf documentary, has written the below summary. He was in the process of completing a follow up programme, to celebrate Adolf turning initially 90 and now, of course, 91.
"So here is a little summary about the last weeks I spent with Adolf for our film project:
In the last weeks I was able to spend considerable time with Adolf while working on a feature-length documentary about him, following the earlier short film we made together. Much of this period unfolded after what he jokingly called his “vacation” in the psychiatric ward in Chur. His health had declined, but his characteristic mixture of stubbornness, humour, and sharp observation remained fully intact.
Even in the clinic, he spoke proudly about having ridden the Cresta earlier this year and insisted that his stay was “clearly unnecessary”, while quietly enjoying the comfort and care around him. His greatest wish, however, remained unchanged: to return home to St. Moritz — not least to check on his beloved radiator before winter set in.
His wish was fulfilled. After his house had been thoroughly cleared and made liveable again, Adolf returned home and slowly adjusted to a new reality: daily nursing visits and help with meals. For a man as independent as he had always been, accepting support was not easy, but he did so with the familiar mixture of resistance and humour that defined him.
During these days, he often brightened up during our documentary interviews. He spoke vividly about the past and even demonstrated how he set his heating system into motion — a small scene that revealed how deeply attached he was to his home.
As his 91st birthday approached, his condition worsened, and it seemed uncertain whether he would be able to attend the celebration planned at the Reine Victoria Hotel. But Adolf was determined. Two wishes were unmistakably clear: he wanted to vote on the planned St. Moritz ice skating centre — and he wanted to celebrate his birthday.
Against all odds, he made it. Though visibly weak, he joined the gathering, listened to the birthday song, raised a glass of champagne he had contributed from an earlier Cresta event, and even stood to thank everyone present. It was a remarkable moment - unmistakably “Adolf".
The following day, I visited him one last time. He lay in bed, breathing heavily, but spoke with warmth about the wonderful evening he had experienced — even if, as he joked, he had risked “a little detour” to get there. It had been worth it! What a life!"
A full obituary will follow in due course.
