Dr. Elisabethb. Collins

Dr. Elisabeth Bartholdi Wolff Collins, 90, of Topeka, passed away at her home, October 2, 2011. She was born May 12, 1921 in Baerwalde, Germany, the daughter of Walter and Elisabeth Hackbarth Bartholdi. After her mother's death in 1933, Elisabeth attended boarding school in Lindau, Bavaria, Germany. After boarding school, she attended Roeckert High School in Berlin, and then studied medicine at Universities in Freiburg, Danzig, and Prague. Elisabeth finished medical school in Hamburg in 1945 and began an internship in East Berlin, where she met and married Dr. Walter Wolff in 1947. In 1953, she fled East Germany with her husband and moved to Tuebingen, West Germany, where she began a residency in adult and child psychiatry at the University of Tuebingen. Dr. Walter Wolff Died in 1957. After completing her residency, as a young widow, Elisabeth moved to Switzerland to take a position as Medical Director at Gotthelfhaus, in Solothurn, Switzerland. At Tuebingen, Elisabeth met Dr. Dean Collins, who was an Ameri can studying there on an Alexander Von Humbolt scholarship. They were married May 16, 1959, and shortly thereafter established their residence in Topeka where he was employed by Menninger Clinic. Elisabeth was his loving and beloved wife for forty-five years, and they shared an interest in music, theater, the opera and travel. Dr. Dean Collins died August 6, 2004. After moving to the United States in 1959, Elisabeth worked as a staff psychiatrist at Topeka State Hospital, Winfield State Hospital, Kansas Neurological Hospital, and Kansas Reception and Diagnostic Center. After receiving her Kansas Medical License and further study at the Menninger School of Psychiatry, she opened a private practice in Topeka, Kansas. She was a member of the Topeka Medical Society, Kansas Psychiatric Society, and the American Psychiatric Society. She retired in 1988. Elisabeth was cremated. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 7, 2011, at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery & Mausoleum, Topeka, Kansas. A musical program in memory of Elisabeth will be held Sunday, October 16, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 1234 SW Fairlawn, Topeka. Dove Cremation & Funeral Service is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to TOSCA Vocal Scholarship at the Topeka Community Foundation, 5432 SW 29th St. Suite 300, Topeka, Kansas 66614 or the Drs. Dean T. and Elisabeth Collins Scholarship Fund at the Kansas University Endowment Association, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, Kansas 66044-0928.