Adele Duttweiler (née Bertschi; 29 December 1892 – 27 May 1990) was a Swiss philanthropist and the wife of Gottlieb Duttweiler, founder of both the Migros group and the LdU political party.
Early life and education
Duttweiler was born Adele Bertschi on 29 December 1892 in Horgen on Lake Zürich, a daughter of Samuel and Maria (née Antille). Her father Samuel Bertschi (1821-1901) emigrated to the United States in the 1860s where he founded and operated a ribbon weaving mill. After the death of his first wife, he sold the factory and returned to Switzerland wealthy.
The couple moved to Horgen, where they acquired the "In Rüsler" farm where Adele grew up. Her father died when Adele was at the age of eight years. Adele's mother was described as a purposeful and spirited woman who had to cope with all sorts of harassment after the early death of her man. She struggled successfully against all odds, a character trait that Adele owed to her mother. After primary school in Horgen, Adele graduated from the then usual "Welschlandjahr" for young women – a longer stay in western Switzerland to learn the French language, mostly as domestic help. She then worked as an employee of ETH Zürich in the seeds control department.
Adele and Gottlieb Duttweiler
As employee of ETH Zürich, Adele Bertschi drove daily by train from Horgen to Zürich. Around the year 1911, a handsome, young, well-dressed man from Rüschlikon began to sit down opposite the rather shy young acting 19-year-old woman, annoying Adele: "He looked at me with big eyes. I was not really happy, I was still almost a child. But probably just my reticence has irritated him not to give up." When his courtship seemed to show no result, he tried a hackney. As soon as he had learned to ride, he visited his beloved at her home in Horgen. Unfortunately, his appearance attracted more impression to Adele's mother and sister. The mother then invited the imposing but somewhat uncertain tab for lunch. Adele Duttweiler expressed concerns where they seemed attached to her, even in quite commercial matters. He listened to their advice, and his in-the-future-thinking was always added by Adele's sense of the reality of the presence.
In 1912 the then 24-year-old Gottlieb and the almost 20-year Adele celebrated their engagement, and on 29 March 1913, the wedding took place. Thus the entirely unusual, almost half a century lasting life and work of two people began, whose work has helped to shape Switzerland sustainable in the twentieth century.
Migros
In 1923 Gottlieb and Adele Duttweiler went to Brazil but had to return to Switzerland in 1924 because of a serious illness of Adele. Then they settled down again in Rüschlikon where the present Migros group was founded in 1925. In 1941 Gottlieb and Adele Duttweiler transferred ownership of Migros to their customers, as a cooperative. In 1946 they passed over their estate to the Im Grüene foundation, and the Park im Grüene was opened to the public in 1947.
The park area comprises the former Langenhalden estate of Adele and Gottlieb Duttweiler, who gave over the spacious area of their estate to the public use in 1946/47 – hence the admission is free, according to Duttweiler's social understanding. The accordingly Im Grüene foundation was established on 24 December 1946. The foundation's assets include the Langhalden estate and an endowment. At the time the foundation was established, the donation had a total value of 520,000 Swiss Francs, which after adjusting for inflation is equal to about 2.6 million Swiss Francs today. The Foundation was tasked to make the Langhalden estate available to the general public as a place of recreation. The donor's intentions were realised by turning the estate into the «Im Grüene» Park (known locally as «Dutti-Park»).
The cargo ship Adele of the Reederei Zürich AG was named after her in 1952. In 1950 respectively in 1957, Adele and Gottlieb Dutweiler established the Adele und Gottlieb Duttweiler Stiftung to ensure the future work of the Migros chain as a cooperative according to the founding act.
Adele-Duttweiler-Preis
On 2 July 1974 the Adele-Duttweiler-Preis was awarded for the first time. The award includes prize money of 50,000 Swiss Francs and was initiated by the 12 regional Migros cooperatives, which decided in 1972 to mark the 80th birthday of Adele Duttweiler to donate a prize, to recalls Adele Duttweiler's selfless work. The foundation was established on 9 October 1973 and periodically honours individuals, organizations or institutions who have rendered outstanding services in the social field.