Gertie worked as a household maid in Paris when Togo met her.  She had emigrated from Austria to Paris to become an artist.  But, she had not found any success.  Togo persuaded her to join his entourage of fellow artists living within his sprawling, historic farmhouse in southern France.  She benefited greatly from this union and, through their connections and support, she went on to become a self-sufficient sculptor with many commissions.   She died from throat cancer in 2009, but not before sending to Togo a life-sized bronze bust of him.