Jerry Springer

Springer in 2008, photo by s_bukley/Bigstock.com

Birth Name: Gerald Norman Springer

Date of Birth: 13 February, 1944

Place of Birth: Hendon, Middlesex, England, U.K.

Date of Death: April 27, 2023

Place of Death: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Jerry Springer was an American broadcaster, journalist, television presenter, politician, actor, producer, musician, and lawyer. He was the host of the show Jerry Springer from 1991 to 2018. He also hosted America’s Got Talent and Judge Jerry for a time, and starred in the film Ringmaster. As a member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 56th Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, from January 1, 1977 to January 1, 1978.

Jerry was born in Hendon, Middlesex, England, the son of German Jewish parents, Margot (Kallmann), a bank clerk, and Richard Springer, who owned a shoe shop. His father was born in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland. Jerry was initially raised in Chandos Road, East Finchley, then moved to the U.S. in 1949, growing up in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York. Jerry had a daughter with his former wife Micki Velton.

Jerry’s paternal grandfather was Nathan Springer (the son of Abraham Springer and Johanna Kreuter). Nathan was born in Barwice, Szczecinek County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland. Johanna was the daughter of Kaufmann Kreuter and Sara Friedlaender.

Jerry’s paternal grandmother was Selma Elkeles (the daughter of Leib Louis Elkeles and Seraphina Pelter/Peltner). Selma was born in Poznań, Poland, and died in the Holocaust, in 1943, in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Her brother, Hermann Elkeles, was a prominent doctor who also died in the camp. Jerry’s great-grandfather Leib was the son of Heimann Itzig Elkeles and Sara Hamm. Seraphina was the daughter of Bernhard Pelter and Eva Emma Birkheim.

Jerry’s maternal grandfather was namd Martin Kallmann.

Jerry’s maternal grandmother was named Marie Flesch. Marie was killed in the Holocaust, in 1942, in the gas vans of the Chełmno extermination camp.

Sources: Genealogy of Jerry Springer – http://www.geni.com

History of Jerry’s family during the Holocaust – http://www.independent.co.uk