Father Josef Peruschitz was born on 21 March 1871 in Straßlach-Dingharting, Bavaria, Germany, the son of Mathias Peruschitz and Elisabeth Peruschitz (née Neudecker). The family moved to Dorfen, Bavaria, in 1872. He was educated at the monastery school in Scheyern (1882–1886) and at the Royal High School in Freising (1886–1890), before entering the Benedictine order. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Antonius von Thoma on 28 April 1895 and served as a Benedictine monk at Scheyern Abbey, where he also taught mathematics, music, physical education and shorthand.
In April 1912, Father Peruschitz booked Second Class passage aboard the RMS Titanic under ticket number 237393 (£13), boarding at Southampton on 10 April 1912. He was travelling to the United States to take up an expected appointment as principal of St. John’s Preparatory School in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
When the Titanic struck the iceberg on the night of 14 April 1912, Father Peruschitz and his fellow priest, Father Juozas Montvila, remained on board to minister to the passengers and crew who could not be saved. Eyewitness accounts describe the two priests moving among the doomed, hearing confessions and offering general absolution to those „about to die.“ Father Peruschitz is reported to have declined a place in a lifeboat so that he could continue this work.
Father Josef Peruschitz died in the sinking of the Titanic on 15 April 1912, at the age of 41. His body was never recovered or identified. He is commemorated with a memorial plaque at Scheyern Abbey, inscribed: „May Joseph Peruschitz rest in peace, who on the ship Titanic piously sacrificed himself.“
This artwork, Titanic Commemorative Memorabilia No. 2100, is dedicated by artist Dodo Newman to the memory of Father Josef Peruschitz as part of the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic collection, handcrafted on PlexiGlass with Swarovski crystals.
Sources: Encyclopedia Titanica (Josef Peruschitz biography); Certificate of Authenticity, Titanic Commemorative Memorabilia No. 2100 (Dodo Newman).
