Biography of alexander kimel

Alexander Kimel died Jan. 24, 2018 of complications from pneumonia. He was 91.

Mr. Kimel was born in Podhajce, Poland. As a boy, Mr. Kimel survived the Holocaust, mostly in the Rohatyn Ghetto, where his mother perished. After the war, he moved with his father and sister to Denmark briefly. He returned to Poland alone to study in Wroclaw’s Polytechnic Institute, where he earned a bachelor’s and masters degree in electrical engineering. While studying in Wroclaw, he met his future wife, Ewa (Eva) Najnudel.

After marrying in 1956, he and Mrs. Kimel emigrated from Poland to Israel. After two years in Israel, Mr. and Mrs. Kimel emigrated to the U.S. in 1959, where they lived in the Bronx. In 1960, their son Martin was born, followed in 1963 by their daughter Pamela. In 1965, the family moved to Teaneck, N.J. Mr. Kimel founded his own successful, consulting-engineering firm, Kimel Associates, which he ran until his retirement.

Mr. Kimel was known for his vitality, energy and intellect. Speaking eight languages, he read widely, and frequently surprised people with his breadth of knowledge. He wrote about his wartime experiences on his award-winning website, sharing his insights about genocide and anti-Semitism. His poems about the Holocaust have been widely reprinted and cited, and even read aloud by strangers in Youtube postings.