Biography

Kenner, Valentin b. April 24, 1912, NYC; Father Joseph Kenner (1889-?), mother Eva Yeva Riback (1891-?); Attended the Modern School then New Brunswick High School; Single; Printer; No party affiliation; Received Passport# 435483 on June 7, 1937 which listed his address as PO Box 45, Stelten, New Jersey; Sailed June 16, 1937 aboard the Aquitania; Arrived in Spain via Espolla on June 28, 1937; Served as Company Clerk in August 1937, promoted to Commissar at end of the month August 1937; Served at Quinto and Fuentes de Ebro; WIA at least twice; In July 1938 was with the Lincoln-Washington BN, Co. 1; Rank Soldado; Returned to the US on December 20, 1938 aboard the Ausonia; WWII Civilian, welder, later member of a paper hanger’s union; d. May 2, 1967, Princeton, New Jersey, was killed when the scaffolding he was working from in an IBM plant collapsed, buried in Washington Cemetery, Deans, New Jersey.

Sibling: sisters Helen Kenner (1914-?), and Lola Flora Kenner (1917-1999).

Source: Sail; Scope of Soviet Activity; Figueres List; Pay; RGASPI; Rutgers University Libraries, Special Collections, Manuscript Collections 101 [includes biographical sketch, interviews, correspondence and photo]; L-W Tree Ancestry; Find-a-Grave #178456126. Code A

Photographs: Valentin Kenner in Spain, RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 921; Carnet Photograph and second photograph, Kenner Collection.