Enrique Trapp, M.D.

Enrique Trapp was born in Mexico City, D.F. on May 17, 1925. He died at home in Austin, TX on June
21, 2023 at 98 years of age. Growing up in Guatemala, he attended the Deutsche Schule (German
School) in Quetzaltenango, where his father established a hardware store importing goods from
Germany.
As a teenager, at the height of World War II, he was sent to Mexico City to finish his education, while
his parents were forced to repatriate to Germany. As a result, he spent the next four years in Mexico
City without any contact with his parents. Living with a family that owned a boarding house, he also
worked part time as a tutor and eventually became one of their family. Upon graduating, he entered
the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City. After his collegiate studies, he applied
with Bayer Pharmaceuticals, but the wise interviewer who saw his potential made him a proposition
that if he studied medicine, he would have a job at Bayer waiting for him. With that he entered
medical school at UNAM and graduated in 1952. He married childhood schoolmate Hedda Kauder in
1955, after a chance reunion, beginning 66 years of a blissful marriage. His medical residency
program in Internal Medicine brought him and Hedda to Galveston, TX, where they soon started a
family.
His career grew in Texas taking him to Tyler, San Antonio and eventually settling in the Rio Grande
Valley, where he became Superintendent of the South Texas Tuberculosis Hospital. His boss told him
"we're in our job to work our way out of a job." In 1968, he fulfilled his boss's advice and with the
closing of the Tuberculosis Hospital, began private practice in Brownsville. He was an old-school
doctor who made house calls and personally cared for his patients. He was dedicated to his practice,
patients and staff for 21 years before retiring. After attempting retirement for six months, he realized
he still had much to contribute and returned to the Rio Grande State Center Outpatient Clinic (the
former Tuberculosis Hospital) where he worked until the age of 90. Enrique was passionate about his
profession and also contributed his time and expertise for many years with medical mission trips to
San Lucas, Guatemala.
When he finally retired at age 90, he and Hedda moved to Austin, TX, where they lived in the loving
home of their daughter Veronica and her husband John.
During his life, Enrique enjoyed participating in many sports such as running, swimming and lifting
weights. Up until two weeks before his death, he was actively attending Lifetime Fitness and enjoying
training sessions with his trainer, Trixie Heady.
He and Hedda traveled extensively throughout Europe, Central and South America where they made
and maintained many lifetime friendships.
People who knew Enrique loved his ability to have a humorous anecdote or joke befitting any
situation or topic. He was able to do this in three different languages, being fluent in English, Spanish
and German. He and Hedda insisted that Spanish and German be the only spoken languages in the
home, much to the exasperation of his children who, as adults, so gratefully appreciate the gift of
these languages in their daily lives. He had a huge curiosity of languages such as French, studying
Rosetta Stone until his 90s, and Dutch. He also studied Tagalog so he could communicate with the
Filipino medical staff, many of whom became longtime and close friends.
His hobbies included listening to and collecting music of Viennese composers. He and Hedda were
active traveling members of the Johann Strauss Society of Coburg, Germany. He was also an
involved member of The Palm Society of South Texas and enjoyed raising exotic palm trees, many
which were planted at his former home in Brownsville.
His marriage of more than six decades to Hedda served as a model of love, loyalty and partnership
for his children and grandchildren. He was well loved, respected and admired by his three children,
who, along with son-in-law John, granddaughter Evan, and his faithful caregiver Amalia Wilkinson,
took care of him during the last phase of his life. The family would, also like to acknowledge Rosa
Camarillo who lovingly helped with his care.
Enrique was predeceased by his wife, Hedda, and infant son, Stefan Martin. He was a loving and
supportive husband, a nurturing and doting Papi and an immensely proud Opa. He is survived by his
daughters Veronica Larsen (John) and Bibi McKnight (Byron) and son Thomas Trapp. He is also
survived by six grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of San Lucas at https://sanlucasmission.org