Kimberley, South Africa

Sperber, Michael

Name:

Sperber, Michael

Year born

1937

3 words that exemplify

A privileged upbringing

Siblings

Shirley (Kalmek) born 1934 now deceased

Date left Kimberley

1957

Age when left

20

Why left:

To attend Rhodes University for a degree

Scholastic achievements

B.Sc (Pharmacy and Chemistry) Rhodes University

Where live now

Sydney Australia

Occupation

Managing Director and owner of pharmaceutical and skin care co.

Married

Etta Cowan January 1965 in Cape Town (was social worker, now artist.)

Children: Names, year they were born where they live and what they do

Susan b. 1965 Ballet dancer, producer and teacher - Now alcohol and drug abuse counsellor, Seattle, USA

Terence b. 1968 Solicitor, Sydney Australia

Rafael b. 1971 General Manager of our business with me as Managing Director.

Parents

Father: Joseph (Joe) b. 1900 Queenstown. Came to Kimberley 1925, pharmacist, died 1984, buried in Port Elizabeth

Mother: Bertha (known as Bertie) nee Stusser b. 1908 from Oudtshorn. Came to Kimberley 1930 when married Joe – housewife. Died 1999 buried in Port Elizabeth

Maternal Grandparents

Israel and Pauline Stusser (nee Levine) He was the district Surgeon in Oudtshorn she was a housewife, both died and are buried in Oudtshorn.

Paternal Grandparents

Morris and Cecilia Sperber. dob not known. Lived in Queenstown, Mafeking and Johannesburg. He was a General Dealer. He died in about 1944. Both are buried in Johannesburg. 

My Story

After leaving Kimberley I graduated at Rhodes University with degrees in Pharmacy and Chemistry never however with the aim of practicing as a pharmacist. Rather I immediately started a pharmaceutical manufacturing and marketing company in Cape Town and soon thereafter incorporated Hair Care products.

In 1983 I sold out to Protea Holdings and emigrated to Sydney, Australia with my wife Etta Cowan from Cape Town, our daughter Susan and 2 sons Terrence and Rafael. Here I started again in the Skin Care and Sunblock industry and with my youngest son market all over Australia and S. E. Asia our own brands.

In Cape Town I was friendly with Ephraim Pick and Bernard Frank who both subsequently passed away. Also with Solly Pick and Naomi Samols (Raichman).

Here in Sydney I see a lot of Gerald Raichman, Sharon Zeidel (Adler) and more occasionally Leslie Stein. I keep in touch as well with Bernard Benjamin in Toronto and Sharon Odes (Walt).

I'll look for some photos as you requested in the next few days.

With my best wishes and happy memories

Michael