Life Member. Violin
8/1/1927 – 10/28/2016

Erica Keen was born Erika Kühn in Deutche Krone, Germany, now Walcz, Poland. Her parents were Hilmeyer Kühn of Izbica Kujawska, Poland and Dora Prinz of Preussisch Stargard, Germany, now Stargard, Poland. Erika’s father was the cantor for the local congregation, and also performed many of the responsibilities of a rabbi. The rise of Nazism put severe pressure on the small Jewish community. At school Erika was not allowed to eat lunch with the gentile children. Her home was searched by the police and Hitler youth ridiculed her in public. Fortunately, her Uncle Morris Keen had successfully emigrated to the U.S. earlier and was able to provide visas for Erika’s family to leave Germany. In 1934 they emigrated to the United States, arriving in San Pedro, CA on July 23. Continue reading →