TTT30 Spring 2023

In Memoriam
Erica Prean
Erica Prean passed away on 22 nd December 2002, aged 92 years, at her home in Ryde,
Isle of Wight. She was the wife of former Chairman, John Prean, and mother of England
international Carl Prean.
Erica had been involved with table tennis at Local League, County and National level for
many years. She was both National Councillor and Deputy National Councillor for the
Isle of Wight at various times between 1980-2013. She acted as treasurer and general secretary for the Isle of
Wight County TTA and also was secretary for the Isle of Wight League for several periods between 1979-2012.
Erica was very supportive of all John’s table tennis activities, especially when he was Chairman of the ETTA,
and also of Carl’s extensive table tennis playing career. Whenever anyone from the table tennis world visited
she was a charming and attentive hostess.
Born in Aachen, Germany, Erica witnessed Kristallnacht when she was eight years old in November 1938. She
came to England as a child refugee the following August with her mother two weeks before war broke out.
They were each allowed to bring with them a very small suitcase and the equivalent of ten shillings. Erica had
been brought up in Germany by her mother’s parents and they were two of 96 family members who were
exterminated in a concentration camp or on the way to one.
Erica met Wolfgang, later known as John, Lustig-Prean through a friend at the refugee home where she lived
in Tunbridge Wells, they were married in 1952. John came from an aristocratic Austrian family and when she
first met them in Vienna it was rather overwhelming. However, Erica’s love of music helped smooth the way
when it was found out her future father-in-law was the director of the Vienna Conservatoire and the Vienna
Symphony Orchestra.
Erica had a very strong social conscience and supported refugee causes, homeless charities and the Royal
Institute of the Blind when John’s eyesight was failing. More recently she donated to help Ukrainian refugees.
She was also Chairwoman of the Isle of Wight NSPCC and served on the local committee of the National
Association of Decorative and Fine Arts. Erica felt passionately that the Holocaust should not be forgotten and
gave many talks whilst the family archives are in the Winer Holocaust Library.
Quite an extraordinary and very gracious lady.
Our condolences go to her two sons, Carl and Duncan.
TTT: Issue 30: Spring 2023
43