Alfred Biolek has resigned, but there is still an opportunity to say goodbye to him. Friends and admirers of the TV presenter make use of it. And leave last messages.
Cologne – an unadorned urn, a vase with lilies and a large black and white picture of Alfred Biolek in a tuxedo. That’s all. No candles, no sea of flowers.
The simple arrangement corresponds to the personality of the late television presenter, says undertaker Christoph Kuckelkorn. “He made his appearances, of course, but in normal life he was a humble person.”
The cathedral hall of the funeral home in downtown Cologne is open to everyone this Thursday. The atmosphere is characterized by silent sadness, but without any artificial solemnity. Again and again, individual visitors come in, pause briefly in front of the urn with the ashes and then sign the list of condolences.
“I loved to see you on TV,” it says, for example. “Thanks for everything,” someone wrote. “Rest in peace, dear Alfred!” On one of the few flower arrangements, “Herbert” wishes: “An easy journey”.
“Such a personable person”
The 65-year-old Elke Budach is fighting back tears. She followed the music show “Bio’s Bahnhof” from 1978 to 1982 as a GDR citizen in Eisenhüttenstadt. Later, of course, the talk shows and cooking shows. “I always adored him, he was such a personable person. He just had heart. “
Later she even met him personally. In Berlin. “He hugged me right away.” When the news of his death came on July 23, she lit a candle for him. She now lives in Sankt Augustin near Bonn, so there was no question that she came here today.
Alfred Biolek’s adopted son Scott Biolek-Ritchie appears deeply sad. “I wish it back every day,” says the 51-year-old. “When I go into the apartment there is a feeling of emptiness. There is silence. His presence is no longer there. That’s sad. But on the other hand, it’s nice that he’s been there for so long. “
Died in his sleep
And it’s also nice that Alfred Biolek died exactly as he always wanted: He wanted to glide over relaxed in his familiar home environment and actually died in his sleep in his Cologne apartment. The nurse noticed that he was no longer breathing in the morning and called Scott. “At that moment you stand there, look and are pretty helpless. At first I was completely deaf and didn’t feel anything. The reactions will come later. “
“Bio” had already let go in the last few weeks. “He hardly ate or drank,” says Scott. “He didn’t want to anymore.” The day before his death he was once again very present. “Watchful eyes, a nod, a pat on my arm. He couldn’t speak anymore. “
Family wants an undisturbed funeral
In the next few days, the urn is to be buried in the Melatenfriedhof in Cologne. Family and close friends would like them to keep to themselves – undisturbed by the gaze of the public. “Maybe I’ll hand the urn over to Renate Gruber,” Scott muses. The photo art expert is an old friend of Alfred Biolek and is in a wheelchair. “Then she can bring the urn to the grave on her lap, and we’ll all follow suit.” A mourning procession, as Melaten has seen so many. Celebrities such as the painter Sigmar Polke, the popular actor Willy Millowitsch and the former Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle rest in the venerable cemetery.
Alfred Biolek’s urn is to be embedded in the ground on the grave site of Photokina co-founder Leo Fritz Gruber (1908-2005) with a conspicuous obelisk in the middle. A few mourners will give a speech, but there are no celebrities among them. Big names wouldn’t have meant anything to Alfred in the last few years of his life, says Scott and smiles. “He was already on the way up.” Dpa
