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Josef Šnejdárek - Co jsem prožil
After Mrs. Katharine Anna Wittmann
Chapter of the book Wittmann family
with town in background Ludrová – birth place of Ignatz Wittmann with town in background Ludrová – birth place of Ignatz Wittmann
castle Pustý hrad in the Zvolen castle Pustý hrad in the Zvolen
Maple and Lily

Katharine Wittmann

Katharine Wittmann Katharine Wittmann

Was born in Bratislava in 1938 and since 1991 was active in business in Slovakia. Died in Canada in 2011.

Significant changes took place following a decade of litigation in the case of restitution, with some cases due to errors in judicial formulation, dragging on until 2004.

Developments in Western countries and the emergence of supermarkets made it evident that large, multinational dairy concers had a greater chance of survival than smaller dairy producers with a wide variety of products. Katharine Wittmann coming to terms with world reality and trends, sold I.Wittmann & Son to Bongrain SAS.

However, wanting to remain in the cheese manufacturing business she informed the trustee in the bankruptcy settlement of a small cheese manufacturing plant in Zvolenska Slatina of her interst to purchase the plant and manufacture bryndza, a speciality sheeps’ milk cheese. As typically practised in Slovakia, the law makes it possible to advertise the timing of this upcoming sale with one single newspaper announcement whenever the trustee arbitrarily decides, in whatever newspaper publication would best suit his purpose.
This non transparent method of placing the announcement in a small regional newspaper was intended to inform an already select group. Katharine Wittmann’s reguest to be informed was ignored. Potential buyers not in this category did not have a chance to bid on this property. Of course this outcome could have been avoided if one had perused all and every newspaper printed in Slovakia, every day.

Not being able to find her favourite treat in Zvolen, she underwent a short ice cream course in Canada and began to manufacture and sell ice cream in her facilities. She continued to invest in the reconstruction of the restituted, devastated family holdings located in the town square, leased commercial and retail facilities with stores, offices and medical clinics and operated a Milk Bar which includes a selection of ice cream and milk drinks.

The trials of a few, selected, early, entrepreneurs in Eastern Europe following the 1989 changes were captured by Mr. Craig Hall in his book “The Reponsible Entrepreneur.” Katharine Wittmann , with her story in Chapter 8 is privileged to be one of them.

Katharine Wittmann Katharine Wittmann Katharine Wittmann and Stefan Hvojnik after the reconstruction of the buildings on the Square
Katharine Wittmann and Stefan Hvojnik
after the reconstruction of the buildings
on the Square
on the dairy yard in summertime 1948 with mother and brother Peter from Africa to Canada 1950 honorary member of Association of Pustý hrad Patrons
on the dairy yard
in summertime 1948		 Katharine with mother
and brother Peter		 from Africa to Canada 1950 honorary member of Association
of Pustý hrad Patrons
Katharine and her mother, Paris 1950 Canada 1993, K.W. and Mr.Môška from Očová Katharine with daughter, Zvolen
Katharine and her mother, Paris 1950 K.W. and Mr.Môška from Očová,
Canada 1993		 Katharine with daughter, Zvolen
Katharine´s children – 1995 left to right Paula , Karyn, Philip 2000 Karyn and Paula with Mr. and Mrs. Schneidarek in France 2005 Paula in Wittmann´s Milk Bar Maxim, Zvolen, SK Katharine and Juliet, Zvolen
Katharine´s children – 1995 left to right Paula, Karyn, Philip 2000 Karyn and Paula with Mr. and Mrs. Schneidarek in France 2005 Paula in Wittmann´s Milk Bar Maxim, Zvolen, SK Katharine and Juliet Wittman
from Colorado, USA in Zvolen