Alexander Kaufman

Alex Kaufman was a Holocaust survivor who lost his parents and sister (Irena) to the Nazis. He escaped a forced labor camp and survived in the woods until the war ended. After the war, he studied chemistry in Germany and later immigrated to the US.

Alex was a visionary with an entrepreneurial and caring spirit. In Germany, he successfully created a lively night club in a basement. Exhibiting early compassion for others, he created a meeting-place for Jewish students in post-war Germany, making sure they had community, encouraging focus on their academics and physical fitness.

Alex immigrated to the United States in 1948, aboard a ship where he served as a cook/dishwasher. He arrived with no funds and worked multiple jobs and learned English in Times Square. Selling TVs door to door by carrying them on his shoulder, he became efficient in traveling roof-to-roof (defeating the traveling salesman dilemma) to cut the number of stairs to navigate in half.

While a “displaced person” in Krakow after the war, Alex met Amalia (Luna) Fuss. In 1950 he sailed to Israel to marry her. Only being able to afford steerage, he elevated himself to dine at the Captain’s Table winning an onboard table tennis tournament. Luna and Alex were married in 1950.

Returning to the US, Alex took a job at Hatco Chemical and was rapidly promoted from washing test tubes and working in the plant to an executive position. When WR Grace purchased Hatco, he rose to executive VP as the first Jewish member of the c-suite. Peter Grace recognized his aptitude for business and had Alex lead their purchasing & developing companies. He had a gift for taking regional businesses and turning them into Nationwide brands as in Herman’s Sporting Goods and Jones of New York. In 1978, this talent came into full bloom when Alex used a leverage buy-out to acquire Hatco, renaming it Kalex Chemical Products.

Alex was highly innovative and strategic. Early on, Alex invented a synthetic lubricant for jet engines, and eventually 50% of all jets flew on Hatco lubricants. In the 80s, Alex reinvented Kalex as a producer of high-quality specialty chemicals for food as well. This demonstrated the resilience that was a hallmark of his life.

Alex lived the ultimate American dream - he went from washing test tubes to owning Hatco Chemical and expanding to create Kaufman Holdings. He also founded award-winning Kalex winery in New Zealand. Ernst and Young chose Alex for its 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award in 1998.

One of Alex’s strongest drives was to provide for his extended family. It was his sacred duty to provide a stable work environment for others. Alex said he woke everyday counting how many eggs it would take to feed the people who worked for him and their families to keep him in touch with his responsibilities. A proponent of equality and fairness, Alex was a key supporter of Seeds for Peace - his goal was to enable future generations to peacefully coexist. Moreover, he contributed generously to organizations such as National Jewish Health in Denver, and the Aspen Institute.

Alex was a competitive tennis player, avid skier and Harley Davidson aficionado who liked nothing better than a dance party. He loved to say: “kids, look around you, this is God’s Country” when skiing with his family and grandchildren and sparkled in his grandchildren’s presence.

Alex triumphed over the tragedy of the Holocaust by travelling the world and living life to the fullest. But, through everything he put his family above all. He did not exhibit bitterness and lived with the thought that ‘success is truly the best revenge.’

Alex is survived by Luna Kaufman, their children (spouses), Bernice (Don), Mark (Katya), and Irene (Daniel) and their grandchildren Manya, Andrew, Evan, Dora, Elena, and Dylan.