Ursula Guttstadt McKinney

Ursula Guttstadt McKinney, 99, long time resident of Chevy Chase, MD passed away peacefully on Jan 4, 2025. Ursula was an accomplished physical therapist, research librarian, dancer (into her 90s!), and artist. She holds degrees from Goethe University in Germany; American University in Washington, DC; and Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. She was born in Germany to Richard Guttstadt and Hanna Semmler in 1925. She is a Holocaust survivor and founding member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. There is a recorded interview of Ursula by the museum from 2010 if you are interested. 

She retired from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in  2006. Ursula was happily married to her husband John McKinney for 50 years until his passing in 2009. John served in World War II in Europe and later was a research physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Ursula was devoted to her sister Brigitte Guttstadt until her death in 2023. 

Until recently she was an active knitter, passionate about dance, and a docent volunteer leading tours at the National Gallery of Art.  She was a cherished friend of many and will be missed. 

Her interment will be at the Arlington National Cemetery, rejoining her beloved husband John. 

In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation in Ursula’s name to a cause she cared deeply about: the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  You can send the donation email to yourself or use [email protected] if you prefer.