It was almost part of the cityscape of Linz: for more than twenty years Ilija Nicolic sold the street newspaper “Kupfermuckn” at Mozart’s crossroads. He died this weekend after a serious illness at the age of 75. There are now candles in his old permanent spot.
“The concerns are very great. He was a generous and warm person with a sunny disposition. His last word when we visited him in hospital was: ‘sell’,” says Daniela Warger, editor-in-chief of Kupfermuckn. “He was really happy with it.”
Nicolic found his passion in selling the street newspaper from Linz after he lost a leg in a serious work accident in Germany – he was not insured at the time – and initially tried to become a street musician.
“Where is the nice gentleman?”
Shortly afterwards he was accepted into their team by the “Kupfermuckn”. That was over twenty years ago. Since then, the grandfather-of-four sat in his spot at the Mozart crossing from morning to night, along with Maltese dog ‘Daisy’ until her death. “And when he wasn’t there because he was driving home, our phones overheated and people asked what was wrong with the nice gentleman,” says Warger.
His chair remains empty
Nicolic’s sales area has been empty since the outbreak of his illness: “No one dares to stand there,” says Warger. Instead, his usual spot is now decorated with candles. The first ones were set up by Nicolic’s granddaughter, and then passers-by also brought their own funeral candles in commemoration of “her” former “Kupfermuckn” seller.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
