Clara Frauenthal

Who was Mrs Clara Frauenthal?

Mrs Clara Frauenthal (née Heinsheimer) was an American first-class passenger and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Born on December 1, 1869, in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was 42 (forty-two) years old when she boarded the ill-fated ship. Clara’s life was marked by multiple marriages, a brush with tragedy on the Titanic, and ultimately, a sad decline into mental illness.

Early Life and Family

Clara was born into a family with German roots. Her parents were:

Father: David Heinsheimer (1821-1886), a wine merchant
Mother: Natalie Loeb (1836-1915)

She had four siblings:

Thekla (1857-1925)
Louis (1859-1910)
Bella (1862-1904)
Alfred (1867-1929)

The Heinsheimer family moved to Manhattan, New York, before 1880, as evidenced by their appearance in that year’s census.

First Marriage and Motherhood

Clara’s first marriage took place on November 24, 1896, in Manhattan. She wed Charles McIlvaine Rogers, born on January 23, 1871. Rogers was a Philadelphia merchant and a member of the grain brokerage firm E. L. Rogers and Co. The couple split their time between Philadelphia and Manhattan.

On December 11, 1902, Clara gave birth to her only child, Natalie Louise McIlvaine, in Manhattan. However, the marriage didn’t last, and Clara and Charles divorced in 1906.

Life Before the Titanic

After her divorce, Clara lived with her daughter, brother Alfred, and mother at Mott Avenue in Queens, New York. Interestingly, in the 1910 census, she described herself as a widow rather than divorced.

On February 2, 1912, Clara applied for a U.S. passport, stating her intention to travel abroad and return within six months. Her physical description at the time was:

Height: 5'5"
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Grey
Complexion: Fair
Face shape: Oval
Chin: Round
Nose: Straight

Second Marriage and Titanic Journey

Clara’s life took a significant turn when she remarried on March 26, 1912, in Nice, France. Her new husband was Henry William Frauenthal, a renowned physician born in 1862 and originally from Pennsylvania.

Titanic Voyage Details

Just over two weeks after their wedding, the newlyweds boarded the Titanic at Southampton for their return journey to the United States. They were accompanied by Clara’s brother-in-law, Isaac Gerald Frauenthal, who joined them at Cherbourg.

Class: First Class
Ticket Number: PC 17611
Ticket Cost: £133, 13s
Cabin: Unknown
Lifeboat: 5

The Fateful Night and Rescue

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, Mrs. Frauenthal, her husband, and her brother-in-law were all rescued in lifeboat 5.

An interesting note from the San Francisco Call (April 19, 1912) claims that Dr. and Mrs. Frauenthal were the first to disembark from the Carpathia when it reached New York City.

Life After the Titanic

Mental Health Struggles

Following their return to New York, both Clara and her husband began to suffer from mental health problems. Despite this, they continued to travel and even lived in France briefly in the early 1920s. From 1921 to 1925, their residence was listed as 160 West 59th Street, New York.

Tragic Turn of Events

In 1927, Clara was widowed when her husband, struggling with his own physical health issues, committed suicide. Being wealthy in her own right, Clara was left only personal effects in his will.

Final Years

Tragically, Clara sank into a deep depression from which she never recovered. She was admitted to Blythewood Sanatorium in Greenwich, Connecticut, where she spent the final sixteen years of her life. Clara Frauenthal passed away on March 30, 1943, at the age of 73 (seventy-three).

What Became of Clara’s Daughter?

Clara’s daughter, Natalie, led an interesting life of her own:

In 1924, she married David Oscar De Lima Mayer (born April 16, 1898), a Harvard graduate and mining engineer.
She later had another marriage or common-law relationship with Joseph Froelich (born 1909), a Munich-born teacher.
There are indications that Natalie may have married again, but details are unclear.
Some speculate that she died in California sometime before 1950, but this remains unconfirmed.

Clara Frauenthal’s life story serves as a poignant reminder of the far-reaching effects of the Titanic disaster, even on those who survived. Her journey from a wealthy first-class passenger to a long-term sanatorium resident underscores the profound psychological impact the tragedy had on many survivors.