Amalia Reichard was born in Vienna, Austria (then Austria-Hungary), on 8 May 1911. As the daughter of a wealthy merchant, she grew up alongside her eight sisters. Her father placed great importance on vocational education, ensuring that all his daughters had the opportunity to pursue their studies. After completing her education, she began her teaching career at Neulandschule Laaerberg in Vienna before relocating to Eggendorf. On 24 December 1942, she married Dr. Theodor Reichard, a graduate engineer in agricultural sciences. She went on to teach biology at Tulln High School in Tulln an der Donau, where she worked from 1943 until her retirement in 1971. Their marriage lasted until his passing in 1990. The couple had no children.
After retiring, she and her husband purchased a large fruit plantation, which they managed together. Following her husband’s death, she continued to live independently until the age of 102, with support from her next-door neighbors and regular visits from her two nieces. It was only after fracturing her thigh, which left her immobile, that 24-hour care became necessary.
Even in her later years, she regularly read specialist journals to stay informed about the latest scientific developments. She was a devout Christian, and until her accident, a regular attendee at Sunday services and an active member of her local parish.
Amalia Reichard passed away in Sitzenberg-Reidling, Lower Austria, on 30 January 2022, at the age of 110 years, 267 days.
At the time of her passing, she was the third-oldest living person in Austria, after Luise Pompe and Margarete Tröstl, and the second-oldest in Lower Austria, after Tröstl.
Her age has not been validated.
* “Begräbnis von Amalia Reichard” – Ö-News, 11 February 2022
* “Zweitälteste Niederösterreicherin: Abschied von Frau Professor (110)” – NÖN.at, 16 February 2022