Marie Meierhofer

Maria Berta Magdalena Meierhofer (1909–1998) was a Swiss children's psychiatrist and pedagogue. She was one of the early supporters of the Pestalozzi Children's Village and is known for the Marie Meierhofer Institute for Children.

Early life Marie Meierhofer was born on 21 June 1909 in a hospital in Zürich. She grew up in Turgi, Canton Aargau as the daughter of Albert Meierhofer, the founder of Bronzewarenfabrik AG Turgi and the artist Marie Lang, the second wife of Albert. following which she became one of the early and main supporters for the founding of the Pestalozzi Children's Village in Trogen in 1946.

Research Between 1958 and 1961 and from 1971 to 1974 Meierhofer conducted research that showed a cognitive deficient development of children that grew up in state owned institutions compared to children who grew up in families. Meierhofer also produced a documentary on her research on over three-hundred children from twelve orphanages in Zurich.

Personal life She had five siblings, of which Hans was from Alberts first wife and Eduard and Adèle were foster children. She had two younger sisters called Emmi and Albertine but lost her brother Robert through death at the age of eight. Marie wasn't home when Robert drowned in the pool. From that day on, however, she felt somehow responsible for the tragic death. Her lifelong effort to help disadvantaged children was greatly enhanced by this event. at the age of sixty-eight. in Canton Zug and was buried in the cemetery in Turgi.