Obituary

In June 1998, after 28 years, the directors, Maria and Gottfried Mohs, were given a festive send-off at the Haus der Jugend by Joachim Vandreike, the city’s youth affairs officer and chairman of the association. Rudolf Kraus was introduced as the new director; he was a longtime employee of the Frankfurt Youth Welfare Office and, until 1998, director of the Gallus Social Services Center. He had been working part-time for the Haus der Jugend since 1972—particularly on financial matters—and had served as part-time executive director since 1993. Effective July 1, 1998, he became the association’s new full-time executive director and, at the same time, director of the Haus der Jugend. From 2007 to 2025, he served as the association’s executive board member. During his tenure, he made many decisions that stabilized the Haus der Jugend and ensured its long-term viability.

This includes developing a plan for the first “Haus der Jugend” once it becomes available again and tenants are sought. Rudolf Kraus is particularly committed to ensuring that the Anne Frank Educational Center finds a permanent home there. He also puts his heart and soul into overseeing the modernization and expansion of the building on Deutschherrnufer. Last but not least, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic—during which regular bookings were at times completely canceled—was also based on his ideas. Together with the executive director, Dr. Claudia Müller, he worked during this time to create housing for socially disadvantaged families.