Abe Kessel - Biography

1910 Abraham (Abe) Kessel was born to Gertrude and Moses Kessel in
Pretoria, South Africa on May 17. Abe was the younger brother of
Fannie and Boetie and the elder brother of Leon and Lippy.

During his high school years Abe spent a year in Germany with
his mother Gertrude and brothers, Boetie, Leon and Lippy.

1927 Abe completed high school at Pretoria Boys High and enrolled as
a student in the University of Witwatersrand School of Dentistry

1931 Abe qualified with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S) in 1931

at the age of 21!

1936 Abe married Beatrice Goldberg.

1937 Their first son, Martin was born on November 3, 1937. At that
time they lived in an apartment in Arma Court in downtown
Johannesburg. Shortly after Martin was born the family moved to 24,
Griswold, Rd. in Saxonwold, Johannesburg.

1940 A second son, Colin, was born on Dec. 11.

1944 A third son, Terry, was born on Sept, 17.

Throughout his career Abe practiced dentistry in several different

locations in downtown Johannesburg.

Abe was very socially conscious and volunteered on a regular basis

providing dental care to the South African Jewish Orphanage and to
Jewish Old Age Home both in Johannesburg.

At an early stage in his career Abe became involved in the politics of

the South African dental profession. He devoted many years of his
professional life to this cause.

1948 Became the youngest President of the of Dental Association of

South Africa (DASA)

1954 Abe was also accorded the first Honorary Membership of the
South African Dental Association in 1954.

One of Abe’s major achievements with the DASA was the

establishment of the Professional Provident Society (PPS) which
provided financial security for members of the profession. Abe served
as chairman of the board of the PPS for many years and saw the
institution grow into a highly successful model system for all
professions in South Africa.
Abe had two passions in life, golf and cards. He would regularly play
golf three times a week on Thursday afternoon, Saturday afternoon
and again on Sunday afternoon at his club, The Houghton Golf Club,
when on Sundays he would often be joined by Bea.

Abe and several friends played a regular Thursday night game of poker
for many years. He was also an avid bridge player and would often
partner with Bea for these games.

Abe was not a religious person but having grown up in a strictly

orthodox home he felt a bond to the Jewish religion and would
regularly attend Friday night services at the Oxford Synagogue about
20 minutes walk from our house.

1963 After living in Griswold Rd. for 27 years Bea and Abe moved to
an apartment in Brettonwoods Court, Killarney.

Abe suffered for many years from poor blood circulation most likely
due to standing over his patients at his dentist chair for 8-10 hours a
day.

1968 On February 28, Abe suffered a fatal heart attack while in his
sleep. He was 58 years old.

1968 Posthumously awarded the R.V. Bird Medal by the Dental

Association of South Africa in recognition of his many contributions to
the Dental Profession.