Elisabeth Witte

I'm taking a moment here on this date, Thursday, March 25, 2010, to share my thoughts and feelings about my dear friend and fellow Milwaukee Symphony Chorus member Elisabeth Witte, who was senselessly stabbed to death exactly 22 months ago by her ex-husband, Dr. Gerhard Witte. Dr. Witte was found guilty of murder in the first degree and was found to be criminally sane at the time of the murder.

This case has reopened old wounds for me. Elisabeth and I were very close friends ever since I joined the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus in January 1998. She came from Germany, and her distinctive accent and voice was used in commercials for the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, WI when I was the program director at WFMR, my old classical radio station. She always spoke glowingly of her three children, and she always gave me either a hug or a hand squeeze when she passed me at rehearsals. One day back in 2005 after rehearsal, she took me aside and asked me to walk out with her to her car. I had no idea why, but I did it because I enjoyed her company. She later told me that her husband was stalking her, and she feared for her life. I didn't want to believe that, but I saw the fear in her eyes and in her actions. Her fear was so strong, she fled to Germany for a while. Even then, her now ex-husband followed her there. She came back to Milwaukee and sang with us for the 2007-2008 season.

The last time I saw Elisabeth alive was after we sang our final concert of the season, J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor at Uihlein Hall in Milwaukee. I was on my way to celebrate after the concert with fellow singers at Water Street Brewery. I passed Elisabeth backstage and said, "See you later." She smiled and said, "Bye, Steve." Elisabeth went to Eagan's, across the street from Water Street Brewery. It was a late night for us at the Brewery. At about 12:40 AM, I went outside to wait for my ride to pick me up. I did something at that time I don't normally do...look up at a lit-up building, specifically the parking structure where Elisabeth was ultimately killed (the murder happened at about that same time - 12:40 AM). But I thought nothing of it. The timing, though, was haunting in retrospect.

The next day, which was a Sunday, I was at home when I received a telephone call from a friend and fellow singer, who told me of Elisabeth's murder. I was shocked, stunned, and started sobbing uncontrollably. My worst fears had come true.

I had to drive to Kansas City, Missouri the next day to introduce an Episcopal congregation to a movement I am involved with, Faith Alive. Before I left town, I was drawn to the parking structure where Elisabeth lost her life. It was about 5:30 AM when I went to where she was killed. The elevator reeked of bleach, as was the second story exit to the parking garage. The bleach was all over the place. The area was well sanitized. All I could do was sob and pray for Elisabeth's soul and for her three children. I drove to KC through southern Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri, occasionally stopping to cry some more. Once at the church in KC, I shared my emotions with people I did not know, but who welcomed and comforted me in my moment of grief. I am eternally grateful to them for their Christian kindness.

Seeing Elisabeth in the casket and her children near her at the wake before the funeral was very tough, but the kids were strong throughout the whole ordeal. Singing with the Chorus at the funeral was cathartic. When the casket passed me on its way out, I said to Elisabeth again, "See you later." I have no doubt I will see her again in Heaven.

I shared the story of Elisabeth's killing at the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Anaheim, California in July 2009, where I was a lay deputy representing the Diocese of Milwaukee in the House of Deputies. There was a resolution (D096 - Prevention of Domestic Violence) that I spoke to on the floor of the House. I only had two minutes to speak, but those two minutes were from the heart for Elisabeth and her children. The resolution passed unanimously in both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops.

There are very few days when I don't think of Elisabeth and how much she meant to me. She is always on my mind at every Chorus rehearsal and concert, especially when we sing a German piece. I didn't know jack about the nuances of the German language until I heard Elisabeth coach us. How much more authentic can you get than with her? I think of her three children, all wonderful people, and pray for them often. They effectively lost both their parents in one moment of a senseless act of rage and became virtual orphans. I and many others lost a dear friend.

How do I feel about Elisabeth's ex? Dr. Witte is a very disturbed man who deserved what he got...life without the chance of parole. His trial was so bizarre (he chose to represent himself), but I am glad it didn't last long. It's tough to forgive him for what he did, but I was taught to forgive the sins of others, even for a crime as heinous as this. While I am still angry and bitter at what Dr. Witte did, only God can mete out his ultimate sentence.

One of my fellow singers, Marcia Brooks (another good friend of Elisabeth's), suggested this link to connect to the Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee. They are a leader in the community effort that offers every victim of domestic violence access to effective and complete programs required to achieve a life free of violence. If you knew Elisabeth, consider making a gift to the Sojourner Truth House in her memory and help in their efforts to stop domestic violence.

To the children...Gerhard, Erik, and Karin...I continue to pray for them and hope they can lead as normal a life as possible in spite of all that has happened.

Rest in peace, my dear Elisabeth. "Machs gut."