In commemoration of Sir Peter Ustinov
Spoken in the name of the Executive Board of the Sir Peter Ustinov Institute
in Vienna by Dr. Friedrich Gehart on March 29, 2004, at the beginning of the
Ustinov lecture held by Professor Horst Eberhard Richter.
"Sir Peter Ustinov has achieved a lot in his life: He was acknowledged worldwide as one of the great ones in arts.
What distinguished him from others and what made him particularly lovable was that to him this was never enough. He wanted to give more to the world than pleasure in arts. He wanted to use his influence, his intelligence and his humour to make this world a better place for all humans.
He was highly committed to charity and issued his opininion on many problems in public. But this was not enough, either.
In the course of his life he had realised what damage prejudice can cause. So, he made it his business to motivate science to fight against it.
With regard to this, the city of Vienna does not only owe him appreciation but also very special gratitude. He was not only fond of Vienna as a tourist but he chose Vienna as location for his Institute for Prejudice Research and Abatement.
He did that because he felt that here is the place where his concerns are understood and because he thought that here is the best place to address two problems he considered especially acute: The fight against prejudices that occur during the integration of South East Europe and in the relationship to Islam.
Already sitting in a wheelchair, he still ran all necessary errands himself in order to found the institute and to arrange for its funding. As chairman of the Executive Board he also spearheaded all specific activities. He observed the foundation professorship and other activities of the institute with great joy.
Sir Peter Ustinov perished far too early. We will miss his advice and support. We want - and here I am speaking for the institute’s Board of Executives - to proceed in his spirit.”
