Benjamin Goldwasser

Birth Name: Benjamin Nicholas Hunter Goldwasser

Place of Birth: Mishawaka, Indiana, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 17, 1982

Ethnicity:
*father – Ashkenazi Jewish
*mother – English, German, Scottish, Irish

Benjamin Goldwasser, also known as Ben Goldwasser, is an American musician. He is a songwriter, keyboardist, and singer of pop and rock band MGMT, whose members also include Andrew VanWyngarden.

Ben is the son of Rachel and David Goldwasser. Ben’s father is Jewish, with German Jewish and Austrian Jewish ancestry. His mother has English, German, Scottish, and Irish ancestry.

Ben has stated, “I don’t identify with any religion at all but I’m really interested in all religions. I would never want to associate myself with just one of them.” He was raised in Westport, New York.

Ben’s paternal grandfather was named Edwin L. “Ned” Goldwasser.

Ben’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth Weiss (the daughter of Louis Stix Weiss and Aline/Honi Pollitzer). Elizabeth was born in New York. Louis was born in New York, the son of Samuel Weiss, who was born in Pennsylvania, and of Caroline/Carrie Stix, whose parents were from Germany, her father from Düsseldorf, and her mother from Burgkunstadt. Aline was also born in New York, the daughter of Sigmund Pollitzer and Alice Kohn.

Ben’s maternal grandfather was George Howard Hunter (the son of George Blackwood Hunter and Ruth M. Howard). Ben’s grandfather George was born in Ohio. Ben’s great-grandfather George was the son of Austin Clark Hunter and Annis Evelyn Blackwood.

Ben’s maternal grandmother was Lulu Vivian/Vivienne Isaacs (the daughter of Harleston/Harley Lee Isaacs and Nora Christine Fivecoate/Fivecoats). Vivian was born in Indiana.

Sources: Mention of Ben’s paternal grandparents, Edwin L. “Ned” Goldwasser and Elizabeth Weiss – http://hereandnow.wbur.org

Genealogy of Ben’s father (focusing on his own mother’s side) – http://www.neilpiwovar.com

Genealogy of Ben’s paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Weiss – https://www.geni.com

Obituary of Ben’s maternal grandfather, George Howard Hunter – http://www.news-gazette.com

Ben’s maternal grandmother, Lulu Vivian/Vivienne Isaacs, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org