Paul Alexander (The Father of the Mother of Doron Zeilberger)

Paul Alexander was born on Dec. 9, 1870, in Tirschtigl, Prussia, the son of Rebecca Pinner Alexander and Solomon Alexander . Paul was very bright, but, in high school only worked on subjects that interested him (science), and hence flunked out after 10th-grade, and at the age of 16, entered a vocational program for pharmacist's assistant, that involved apprentenship during the day, and theoretical studies during the night. The best student in that program was allowed to enter the university without high-school diploma (Abitur), and that happended to be Paul. His University studies culminated with him earning a Dr. phil. in 1897, from the University of Leipzig, under the direction of J. Wislicenus. His dissertation was entitled: `Ueber die Einwirkung von o-Nitrobenzylchlorid und Matriummalonsaeureaethylester'.

In 1900, he married Elfride Pinner Alexander (1875-1942) , and they had six children listed below.

His specialty was the recycling (regeneration) of rubber. He had numerous patents, both German and foreign, for example US patent no. 844,077 (issued Feb. 12, 1907). He started a company for the recycling of rubber, and became a wealthy man. His fortune came to an end in the mid-twenties because of the great decrease in prices of new rubber, that came from the openings of new markets from Africa, and the great inflation of 1923. He was forced to sell his stately mansion, and move to a much smaller apartment. Nevertheless, he continued his research, and constantly published, and was one of the world's great authorities on the regeneration of rubber. He contributed 4 articles to the first edition (1919) of Ullmann's famous Encyclopedia of Technical Chemistry and 3 articles to the second edition (1930).

He had several mentions in the book `History of the Rubber Industry' published in 1952 by the British Inst. of Rubber Industry.

After selling their house in Insterburgalle 21 in Chalottenburg. Paul and Elfrieda moved to Apt. III in Mommsen Strasse 47, Chalottenburg, Berlin.

The directory of Greater Berlin: "Jüdisches Adressbuch fü gross-Berlin" has him listed as follows:
Alexander, Dr. Phil. Paul, Fabrikdirecktor, Chalottenburg, Insterburgalle 21.
[here is the street sign (taken by Gil Zeilberger)]

When Hitler came to power, all his children managed to get visas and escape out of Germany, with the exception of Elisabeth, who nobody wanted to grant a visa to, because of her Heart-Illness. Not wishing to leave Bettchen behind, Paul and Elfride stayed in Germany.

In May 23, 1942, which was his 46th wedding anniversay, he wrote his Last Letter ( .doc) summarizing his scientific accomplishments, followed by his List of Publications ( .doc) [both translated by Kathy Wolff]).

When they were taken away, on Aug. 4, 1942, to a concentration camp, Betty committed suicide by jumping out of the window. Paul Alexander died of an untreated disease shortly after, on Sept. 5, 1942 in the concentration camp Theresienstadt. See this url.

His list of publications (until 1931) appeared in the famous Poggendorff's directory of scientists.

His children are:

Friedrich Ludwig Alexander ( Berlin, Nov. 7 1902 -Cape Town, South Africa, July 1971). F. L. Alexander was a talented artist and sculptor, training at the Kunstakademie, Berlin. Emigrating from Germany in 1936, he became a leading art critic in South Africa, working for the daily newspaper `Die Burger'. He was also the curator of the Jewish museum, Cape Town. He wrote the books: "South African Book Plates", Cape Town, 1955 (with others); "Art in South Africal since 1900" Cape Town: A.A.Balkema, 1962, and the posthumous (completed and edited by Roman Waher)"South African Graphic Art and its Techniques", Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 1974. Ludwig was married to Malvina ("Malve") Mund (Lwow, Poland 20 Nov. 1903-Cape Town, South Africa, August 1971), who died shortly after him.
Added Feb. 13, 2011: Karola Nick very kindly transcribed a letter written, on July 25, 1919 (when Ludwig was sixteen) to his grandmother Anna Pinner. There is also a short postscript by Ludwig's mother Elfride. Krola Nick also kindly scanned the original: page 1 page 2 page 3 page 4 and wrote an English summary
They have one son, Ernest R. Alexander (b. Dresden, Germany 11 Dec. 1933). Ernest ('Ernie' to his family and `Alex' to his friends), is professor emeritus of urban planning at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, and now lives in Israel. He graduated in Architecture at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and received his Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from The University of California-Berkeley. He has practiced architecture and town planning in Israel, Britain, and Ghana, worked as a senior planner in California, and has been a consultant for local government, state, and national government agencies in Wisconsin and Israel. His books and monographs include: "How Organizations Act Together: Interorganizational coordination in theory and practice", Amsterdam: Gordon & Breach,1995. "Approaches to Planning : Introducing Current Planning Theories, Concepts, and Issues", Amsterdam: Gordon & Breach, 1989 (2nd. Ed. 1992; Arabic edition 1995, Italian edition 1997, Korean edition 1999). "Evaluating Plan Implementation: The national statutory planning system in Israel" (with R. Alterman and H. Law-Yone) Progress in Planning 20 Part II, Oxford: Pergamon, 1983. "Going It Alone: A case study of planning and implementation at the local level" (with R.M.Beckley) Washington, DC: USGPO 1975. Ernest is married to Shulamit ("Shuly") Stock (b. Katowitz, Poland, 15 April 1937). They have two children who live in Israel:
- Michael Alexander (b. Tel-Aviv, Israel, June 6, 1963), graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, has an M.A. in Political Science/Planning from the Hebrew University at Jerusalem, and a Ph.D. in social geography from the University of Amsterdam. After completing his doctorate, Michael was Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Haifa, Israel, and research fellow at its Center for Public Management and Policy. He previously worked as consultant in the Long-Term Planning Department, Municipality of Tel Aviv. He has contributed chapters to "Citizenship in European Cities" and other books. In 2007, Ashgate published his book "Cities And Labour Immigration: Comparing Policy Responses in Amsterdam, Paris, Rome And Tel Aviv". He is now living in Jerusalem and works there too, as a Field Officer of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in their East Jerusalem office.
- Dana Alexander (b. Dec. 9, 1965, Tel-Aviv), graduated from Yale University and received her Law degree from the Hebrew University at Jerusalem. She aslo completed an executive course at the Mandel Institute for Educational Leadership. Dana works for many years as a civil rights lawyer for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), and is currently (2007) director of its Legal Department. On October 28, 2006, Dana gave birth to a boy: Zohar David Alexander.
(Louisa) Marianne (Alexander) Ohnstein ( Dec. 10, 1903- March 27, 1989). Marianne was married to Alfred ("Alf") Ohnstein (Aug. 19, 1897- Dec. 21, 1996), a farmer, who lived in Kfar Bialik, Israel, until his death (at the age of 99 and a half), where he was one of the founders and head of village-committe for many years. They had two children:
- Michael Ohnstein (Könisberg, Germany,Nov. 24, 1929- near Cabri, Israel, March 27, 1948), who was killed in the Galillee during the war of Independence. Here is Michael Ohnstein's memorial page (in Hebrew).
- Rivka Ohnstein (born 1927), who is married to Shmuel (Shmulik) Barkai (April ?, 1923- Feb. 2, 2011), a retired member of the Egged bus cooperative, and a farmer. Rivka and Shmulik have two children. Michal (b. Kfar Bialik, 1949), trained as an Handasai (senior technician), who later was a bus driver (one of the first women in Israel to do that job), and who is also a certified tour guide. Michal was married to Eli Ayalon, and has 3 children:
  - Guy Ayalon (born 1971), a swimming coach, (who is married to ?, and is the stepfather of Roi (born April 15, 1999), as well as the father of
    - Tom (a girl) ( born Dec. 24, 2003)
    - Lehee (born June 2006)
  - Ravit Ayalon(born 1972), who graduated in 1999 from the Technion,
  - Merav Ayalon (born 1976), who got a master's degree in physics from the Hebrew University. Merav has two children (twins), whose father is Yoav ?.
    - Na'ama (born Feb. 27, 2010)
    - Omri (born Feb. 27, 2010)
  Rivka and Shmulik's son is Arnon (b. Kfar Bialik, July 19, 1953), a farmer and heavy equipment expert, married to (another) Michal, a teacher and a flower-artist. Arnon and Michal have four daughters:
  - Yael (born Nov. 27, 1978), who in the summer of 1999 hiked the Appalachian Trail with her then-boyfriend Omer. Yael was a swimming champion and later became captain of the Tel-Aviv Women's Rugby Club, and member of the National Team.
    On Sept. 1, 2005, she was married to Ishay Kenan. The wedding took place in her parents' farm in Kfar Bialik and they were about 250 guests. Yael and Ishay Keinan have (so far) one child
    - Shachar Keinan (born Sept. 14, 2007)
  - Noa (born Jan. 25, 1982), who was also a swimming champion.
  - Ela (born Dec. 5, 1986),
  - Rotem (born Jan. 2, 1989).
(Marie) Gertrude Kuhn (June 15, 1906 Charlottenburg (Berlin)- October 31, 2000., Pierport , Michigan). Gertrude Kuhn was married to Paul Wilhelm Kuhn (January 17, 1901. Charlottenburg (Berlin)- Nov 12, 1986). Gertrude and Paul, both artists, escaped from Germany to South Africa, and then emigrated, in the early sixties (when their children were teenagers), to the United States. Gertrude and Paul Kuhn have two children:
- Anna Charlotte Kuhn (b. October 31, 1944, ? Cape Province, South Africa. ) Anne is married to William Howson. With her first husband, ? Levi, she has three children:
  - Arielle Levi (b. ?)
  - Abraham Levi (b. ?)
  - Nini Levi (?-?), a girl who was killed in an accident.
- Wilfred John Sidney Kuhn (b. March 25, 1946, Somerset West, Cape Province, South Africa). John Kuhn's children are:
  - Mark Allan Kuhn (b. July 8, 1971, Brookline, Massachusetts),
  - Jason John Kuhn (b. February 13, 1973., Worcester, Massachusetts). Jason has a son
    - Jacob Steven Kuhn (b. May 5,2000)
  - Steven James Kuhn (February 9, 1975 - May 5, 1997) Steven has a daughter
    - Samantha (b. ca. 1996)
  - Lara Catherine Kuhn Dodson (b. December 9, 1980) [Married to Dustin Andrew Dodson (b. April 10, 1979) on April 5 2001, and whose children are
    - Ashten Andrew Dodson (b. February 26, 2000)
    - Blaize Erin Dodson (b. November 19, 2001)]
    - Alexander Paul Kuhn, born July 3, 1988.
- (Dora) Elisabeth ("Bettchen") Alexander (March 25, 1909- Aug. 3, 1942). She is buried in the Berlin Jewish cemetery.
- (Clara) Brigitte (Gitti) (Alexander) Weiss (Jan. 6, 1913- June 15, 2009). Brigitte (Giti) is the widow of Hans Issac (Yitzhak) Weiss (June 21, 1902- Aug 11, 1983), a lawyer, who was a judge in his native Germay. When he immigrated to Palestine, he worked as a carpenter from 1934 to 1943. He then worked in the legal department of the Israel ministry of Treasure. They have two children:
  - Ada Weiss(born May 8, 1944), a lawyer, who is senior deputy legal advisor of the Isreali Ministry of Transportation
  - Matti Weiss(born Nov. 15, 1945, Ph.D. 1977) who is supervisor of oceanography at the Israeli Inst. of Meterology. Matti is married to Nili (born June 29, 1949), and they have four children:
    - Ori (b. Nov. 24, 1982),
    - Tom (b. Aug. 5, 1984),
    - Aviv (b. Sept. 13, 1987)
    - Sachar (b. July 18, 1990).
    Added Feb. 3, 2003: On Jan. 11, 2003 we celebrated, in Matti's house (in Ramat Raziel, outside of Jerusalem), Gitti's 90th birthday .
  - (Eva) Ruth (Alexander) Zeilberger ( Aug. 2, 1915- Nov. 1979), my mother. (See http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~zeilberg/family/ruth.html).
  Paul Alexander's parents are:
  Solomon Alexander , and Rebecca (Pinner) Alexander.
  
  Added Jan. 1, 2002: I just found, in my father's old papers, a copy of a letter sent to him in Jan. 1994 (a few days before he died) from my aunt Brigitte Alexander Weiss containing Acrostics written by Paul Alexander for his Five Daughters (in German, of course).
  Last Update: Feb. 26, 2013, thanks to Karola Nick for the transcription of the important letter to the Alexander children by the family friend, Georg Krüger-Wittmack, dated Aug. 1, 1946.
  Previous Updates: Feb. 13, 2011, thanks to Karola Nick (post the letter from (Friedrich) Ludwig Alexander (July 25, 1919) to his grandmother, kindly transcribed by her. Also thanks to Michael Lenarz, the historian of the Jewish Frankfurt museum for correcting the circumstances of Paul and Elfrieda Alexander's deaths.
  July 19, 2010: to enter Merav Ayalon's twin children Na'ama and Omri, born Feb. 27, 2010. May 15, 2002. (Thanks to John Kuhn) Jan. 1, 2002 , Nov. 14, 2000, Sept 2, 2000, Dec. 3, 1999 ;July 3, 1999, Dec. 22, 1996. Feb. 3, 2003 (thanks to Tom(jr) Furstenberg, who took pictures from Gitti Weiss's 90th birthday). Sept. 17, 2005. [To enter Yael Barkai's marriage to Issai Keinan]. Dec. 22, 2005 (To enter Paul Alexander's Last Letter (.doc) and Paul Alexander's List of Publications (.doc) [both translated by Kathy Wolff]) ; Jan. 11, 2007: to record the birth of Zohar Alexander. Sept. 3, 2007 (To update information about Michael Alexander and Dana Alexander). Dec. 13, 2007 [Thanks to Ernst ("Alex") Alexander] May 22, 2008 [thanks to Rivka and Shmuel Barkai, to enter Yael Barkai's daughter Shachar, and exact dates of their other great-grand-children]. June 16, 2009 [to report the death of Brigitte ("Gitti") Weiss z"l] Aug. 1, 2009 [To post Elisabeth Alexander's grave (thanks to Gil Zeilberger)] ; Feb. 3, 2011 (to report Shmuel Barkai's death)
  Doron Zeilberger's Ancestors
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