William Kessler

Progressive Jewish leader, philanthropist and businessman

AT THE age of 15, William Kessler was told by his father to leave his local grammar school and start working for the family firm, Kesslers. He remained there for over 75 years. A successful businessman, a generous philanthropist and prominent member of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, Kessler, who has died aged 92, began as chairman of the youth club and rose to become LJS president, supporting rabbis John Rayner, David Goldstein, David Goldberg and most recently Alexandra Wright.

His dedication to Progressive Jewish life led to his eventual chairmanship of Leo Baeck College. His relationship with College principals was widely appreciated, especially by Rabbis Jonathan Magonet and Marc Saperstein as well as faculty and students.

He regularly sent newspaper articles and emails with marketing suggestions, and created an annual cousins’ lunch for all the grandchildren, ensuring they saw each other regularly.

Born in Vienna, the eldest child and only son of Leopold and Cilly Kessler, his sister Adele was born two years later. Their father spent six months a year in England where Willie’s grandfather, Bernhard, a wood turner, who equated English weather with rain, had set up Kesslers in 1893, making umbrella handles.

When his grandfather died in April, 1938, Leopold brought his wider family to England from Austria and Czechoslovakia,

including Willie’s cousin Teresa, whose mother died. With her father interned on the Isle of Man, Teresa stayed with them until his release and they settled in Enfield, North London.

In 1948, he met Jo Reubner who arrived in the UK on the Kindertransport from Vienna. They enrolled in evening classes at the LSE and married at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in 1952. His life revolved around the family business, now re-named the Kessler Group, which had stopped making umbrella handles after the war and moved into plastics. During the 1980s Willie worked with Seiko, the Japanese watch-maker.

He enjoyed travelling and visited India eight times,which he said touched him spiritually, even while assaulting his senses. Although modest, he always valued other people.

Willie Kessler is survived by his wife Jo, children George, Charles, James and Edward, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His sister Adele pre-deceased him by three months. ED KESSLER

Willie Kessler: born April 6, 1927. Died July 30, 2019