Walter Peter Hohenstein (1908 - 1987)

Born 17 Dec 1908 in Vienna, Austria

Husband of Selma Sue (Daniel) Hohenstein — married 1939 in United States

Died Feb 1987 at age 78 in Foral Park, Queens, New York, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Walter was born December 17, 1908^[1] in Vienna, Austria.^[2] His parents were Sohn Hohenstein and Ehefrau Hohenstein verh.^[3]

Walter Hohenstein migrated from Austria to United States.

Walter, a chemist, fled his home in Vienna as Nazi persecution of Jews mounted and sought shelter in Lausanne, Switzerland until he was able to obtain his travel papers in Zurich on March 7, 1939. He then left for England, where he boarded the SS Champlain in , leaving Southhampton May 30, 1939 and arriving in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States May 23, 1939. Walter's nearest relative was Mrs. S Hohenstein, who lived at 74 Hasnerstrasse in Vienna and his final destination was the home of his Uncle, Hyman Peller, at 931 E. 22^nd in Paterson, New Jersey, United States. Walter was 5' 10" tall with fair complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair.^[2]

Walter met Selma (Daniel) Rindsberg, a widowed German born Holocaust survivor with a daughter, Gertraud, who had also settled with family in New Jersey after arriving in the United States a month earlier.^[4] Following a courtship of only a few months, they were married before the end of 1939.^[5]

In 1940, Walter and Selma made their home in Queens, New York, United States and Selma's daughter had Americanized her first name to Gertrude. She also had begun to go by Walter's last name, although it is not known whether he formally adopted her.^[6]

Walter filed a petition to become an American citizen in 1945 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States.^[7]

Walter, who used the title "Dr.", held several academic degrees in his chosen field of chemistry, having earned his first one in 1932. A member of the American Chemical Society, he was employed by a college, where he presumably performed research and published his results.^[8] His many trips abroad in the 1940's and 1950's, during which he traveled alone, are presumed to be related to his academic pursuits.

• Walter's return to the United States from Cairo, Egypt encompassed four days of travel from June 23, 1946 to June 27, 1946 on Transcontinental & Western Air Flight 3-41B, via Rome, Paris, Shannon, Meeks, and Gander. He weighed 160 pounds and had one baggage item weighing 55 pounds. He traveled on a United States passport that was issued April 25, 1946.^[9]

• Walter returned to his home at 84-51 Beverley Rd, Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, United States from England aboard the SS Queen Elizabeth, leaving June 4, 1947 from Southhampton and arriving June 9, 1947 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States. He was listed as having become an American citizen in January, 1945 at District Court New York.^[10]

• The following year, Walter again returned from England, this time aboard the SS Queen Mary, leaving May 15, 1948 from Southhampton and arriving May 20, 1948 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States.^[11]

• Walter returned home from France, traveling first class aboard the SS Nieuw Amsterdam. He left Le Havre December 7, 1949 and arrived in Manhattan, New York, New York, Untied States December 14, 1949. His United States passport was number 63649 and he brought three suitcases with him.^[12]

• Walter's next trip abroad was completed when he returned home aboard Pan American World Airways, Inc. Flight 111/25, leaving from London, England August 25, 1950 and arriving in Queens, New York, New York, United States August 26, 1950. He must have renewed his passport because its number was 285877 on this trip.^[13]

• Walter's return from his next foreign trip was made using his middle name, Peter, although his passport number was still 285877. He left December 8, 1951 from Le Havre, France, traveling first class on the SS Liberte and arrived December 14, 1951 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States.^[14]

• After skipping a year, Walter once again traveled abroad, returning May 27, 1953 on Pan American World Airways, Inc. Flight 051/27, which left London, England and landed at Idlewild International Airport in Queens, New York, New York, United States.^[15]

• Walter returned home traveling first class aboard the SS Andrea Doria, leaving June 1, 1956 from Naples, Italy and arriving June 9, 1956 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, bring eight items of luggage with him. His passport had apparently been renewed again, with number 266185.^[16]

• Walter completed his final trip abroad December 21, 1956, when he returned from Prestwick, Scotland on Scandinavian Airlines System Flight SK903/21, landing in Queens, New York, New York, United States.^[17]

In 1954 Selma and Walter signed their last lease at 84-51 Beverly Road, Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, United States,^[5] where they had been living since at least 1946^[9] They continued to stay there until their legal separation in 1979, after which Selma remained in the apartment. In 1984, when the apartment building was converted from a rental property to co-operative ownership, the apartment became the subject of a lengthy legal battle that raged on for several years after Selma's death.^[5][18]

Walter died in February 1987. At the time, he lived in Floral Park, Queens, New York, United States.^[1]

Sources

^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]}

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} United States Social Security Death Index, database, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), Walter Hohenstein, Feb 1987; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), Walter Hohenstein, 1939; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} George Stockschlader, record for Peter Hohenstein, (accessed February 14, 2016).
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 13 February 2016), Selma Rindsberg, 1939; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} LEAGLE, Selma S. Hohenstein et al., Plaintiffs, v. Walter P. Hohenstein et al., Defendants., Supreme Court, Special Term, Queens County., November 5, 1984, (accessed February 13, 2016).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} United States Census, 1940, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 13 February 2016), Gertrude Hohenstein in household of Walter Hohenstein, Assembly District 6, Queens, New York City, Queens, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 41-1763, sheet 4B, family 96, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 2753.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} New York, Eastern District Naturalization Petitions, Index, 1865-1957, database, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), Walter Peter Hohenstein, 1945; from "Index to Naturalization Petitions of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 1865-1957," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing Court U.S. District Court, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, Index to Naturalization Petitions of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 1865-1957, NARA microfilm publication 1164 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1991), roll 71.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} United States National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel Files, 1954-1970, database, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), W P Hohenstein, New York, United States, Oct 1954; citing 1954 National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel, 622629, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), 7131 - vol 15341-15342, Jun 26, 1946 > image 944 of 1494; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), 7382 - vol 15724-15725, June 9, 1947 > image 30 of 1396; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), Walter Hohenstein, 1948; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), 7771 - vol 16862-16863, Dec 14, 1949 > image 138 of 980; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), 7879 - vol 17139-17141, Aug 26, 1950 > image 85 of 1456; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), 8078 - vol 17685-17687, Dec 14, 1951 > image 47 of 1647; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), 8315 - vol 18183-18185, May 26, 1953 > image 914 of 1201; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), 8731 - June 7, 1956, AMERICAN SCOUT-June 9, 1956, ILE DE FRANCE > image 765 of 1224; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), 8820 - Dec 21, 1956, CURRO-Dec 23, 1956, CARIBIA > image 1031 of 1099; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} LEAGLE, Gertrude Weinstein et al., Appellants, v. Walter P. Hohenstein, Respondent, et al., Defendants, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Second Department., August 11, 1986, (accessed February 13, 2016).

See also:

• Google Books, "Handbuch österreichischer Autorinnen und Autoren jüdischer Herkunft 18. bis 20. Jahrhundert", Herausgegeben von der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek, Redaktion Susanne Blumesberger, Michael Doppelhofer, Gabriele Mauthe, (accessed February 14, 2016). Includes the following biographical paragraph:

Hohenstein, Walter Peter

* 17.12.1908 Wien/Niederosterreich.

Stud. in Wien; 1933 Dr.phil.in physikal. Chemie; war Mitgl. zion. Vereinig. u aktiv in d. Anti-Nazi-Bewegung; emigr. 1934 nach Ital; bis 1936 Chemiker in einem Mailänder Industrielab; stud. glztg. am Inst. Ronzoni u. am Inst. Politecnico; emigre. 1937 in d. Schw.; bis 1939 als Forschungsasst. an d. Univ. Lausanne tätig; ging 1939 in d. USA; Chemiker bei Glyco Products Inc. in NY; 1941-1946 Research Fellow bzw. Asst.Prof u. 1946-1963 Prof. an d. Chem. Abt. d. Polytechnical Inst. of Brooklyn; 1940/41 Gastprof. am Ahmedabad Research Inst. in Indien; als wiss. u. Industrie-Berater tätig; verf. zahlr. Fachbeitr.

B: Chemiker, Hochaschulleher.

V: V: Adolf Hohenstein, M: Amalie Balsam.

• United States Index to Alien Case Files, 1940-2003, database, FamilySearch (accessed 14 February 2016), Walter Hohenstein, 23 May 1939; citing Immigration, Alien Registration Number 4872947, "Index to Alien Case Files at the National Archives at Kansas City, ca. 1975 - 2012," NAID 5821836, Records of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2003 - 2004, RG 566, National Archives at Kansas City.

• Aron, Dennis, Impact of the Holocaust on the Descendants of Jakob Moyses and Sara of Meudt. October 2012, page 90.

• WikiTree profile Hohenstein-2 created through the import of Loewenstein Descent.ged on Sep 18, 2011.

Acknowledgements

Guidance and research assistance that enabled development of this profile, generously and graciously provided by Jamie Nelson and Rob Ton, is greatly appreciated.