Dorothy Kollenberg (1918 - 2010)

Dorothy Kollenberg, known as Doris, is the wife of Maurice Bryer, a nephew of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE. Bryer family HERE

Parents: Isadore Kollenberg (1888 - 1971) and Johanna Dublitsky (1889 - 1980)

Tombstones for Doris's parents. Isadore is buried in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and Johanna in Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Born: 20 October 1918 in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia

Hebrew name: Devorah daughter of Yitzhak

Siblings

• Esther Kollenberg (1913 - 2001) married Michael Gelfand (1913 - 1985) in Johannesburg, South Africa on 26 January 1937
• Eileen Kollenberg (1915 - 1991)
• Nina Kollenberg (1922 - 1996) married Leonard Pinshow (1916 - 2004) in January 1945
• Gerald Kollenberg (1931 - 2021) married Adrienne Rubinstein

L-R: Isadore, Eileen, Johanna, Esther, Nina (in front), Edward, Doris, Glicka Kollenberg. Edward and Glicka were her grandparents.

Occupation: Radiographer

Married: Maurice Bryer on 31 January 1951 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. Maurice was 39 and Doris 32

Maurice and Doris on their wedding day

Children

• Lesley Beryl Bryer 1952 -
• Beverly Ann Bryer 1956 -

Travel

1923

In 1923 the family (Johanna, Esther, Eileen, Doris and Nina) went to Canada to visit their maternal grandfather, the Reverend Samuel Dubitsky who resided at 13 Evans Street, Montreal, Canada. Doris was age 4. They departed Durban, South Africa aboard the Briton and arrived in Southampton, England on 7 May 1923 on their way to Montreal, Canada

The Canadian arrival card for Doris. They arrived in Quebec aboard the Malta on 20 May 1923

The family departing Montreal and arriving in Liverpool on 17 May 1924 aboard the Montcalm

1938

Doris travelled from Durban, South Africa to England arriving in Southampton on 24 March 1938 aboard the Edinburgh Castle. She is listed as a student from Rhodesia, age 19.

1939

Doris travelled aboard the Empress of Britain from London to New York departing on 29 July 1939 and arriving there on 10 August 1939. The purpose of her visit was study. Here age is given as 20, she is a student and she is 5 foot 6 inches tall with a medium complexion. 

The image is blurred and hard to read. AI reads it as follows:

This image is a U.S. Department of Labor Manifest for Dorothy Kollerberg, , a 20-year-old student from Southern Rhodesia who entered the United States at Rouses Point, N.Y. on November 1, 1939.

Based on the manifest and historical context, here are the key details of her journey:

Personal Information

• Name:  Dorothy Kollerberg
• Age & Sex: 20 years old, Female
• Occupation: Student
• Nationality: S. Rhodesia (Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe)
• Race: Hebrew
• Place of Birth: Bulawayo, S. Rhodesia 

Travel Details

• Passport: Southern Rhodesia Passport No. 26100, valid until December 19, 1943.
• Arrival in U.S.: She arrived via the steamship "Empress of Britain" on August 1o, 1939.
• Destination: She was headed to the Jewish Hospital, 10 No. Morris Pk. West, NYC.
• Purpose of Visit: A temporary stay of one year for study. 

Physical Description. The document includes a detailed physical record used for identification at the time:

• Height: 5 ft. 6 in.
• Complexion: Medium
• Hair: Brown
• Eyes: Brown

Doris initially went to study at Guys Hospital in London.  But once the war broke out in September 1939 she could not go back to Rhodesia so she then went to complete her radiography course in New York. On her return to Southern Africa she worked at the Edenvale hospital in Johannesburg. It was there in Johannesburg that she met her future husband Maurice

1940 USA Census

Doris was living and studying in New York when the 1940 census was conducted. She is a student age 21 with 3 years of college education and residing at the Peter Stuyvesant Hotel

Death

13 July 2010 (2nd Av 5770), age 91, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is buried in the Lyndhurst Cemetery there, section 3, row R, grave no 56

Tombstone inscription: "Doris Bryer 23.10.1918 - 13.7.2010 Lovingly remembered by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren"

Hebrew translation: "[abbreviation] Here is buried/ Devorah daughter of Yitzchak and Chaya/ passed away 2 Menachem Av 5770/ [abbreviation] May her soul be bound in the bond of life."

Jewishgen cemetery record for Doris

Australian Jewish Historical Society record for Doris 

Residence

In 1976 the family were living at 4 Bevan Avenue, Kumalo, Bulawayo, Rhodesia

Maurice Bryer (1911 - 1986)

Maurice Bryer is a nephew of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE. Bryer family HERE

Parents: Barnett  Bryer (1878 - 1958) and Dinah Rachel Morris (1879 - 1969)

Tombstone for Maurice's mother Dinah who is buried in the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg, grave block M, grave no 358. His father Barnett is buried in the Bloemfontein memorial cemetery, plot no 10:601

Born: 11 April 1911 in Bloemfontein, South Africa

Hebrew name: Moshe son of Baruch

Siblings

• Michael Bryer (1904 - 1933) married Anne Smulian in (April - June) 1927 in London, England
• Nathan Bryer (1908 - 1990) married Rose Frankel (1908 - 1984) on 31 December 1933 in Johannesburg, South Africa
• Leon Bryer (1919 - 1994)

Occupation: Engineer and company director

Married:

1: Phyllis Salkinder (1915 - 1973) in Bloemfontein in around 1945

2: Dorothy Kollenberg, known as Doris, on 31 January 1951 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. Maurice was 39 and Doris 32

Maurice and Doris on their wedding day

Children

• Lesley 1952 -
• Beverly Bryer 1954 -

Military

In World War 2 Maurice served in the South African air force, rising to the rank of Captain. Here he is in 1941 as a light aircraft mechanic and his service number is 24963

Maurice in the air force

Biography

BRYER, Maurice. B.Sc. Civil Engineering. Director of Company. Born Bloemfontein, 11th April, 1911, son of Barnett and Dinah Bryer. Educated Brebner School, Grey College School, Witwatersrand University. Joint Managing Director, Vulcan Trading Co. (Pvt) Ltd. Bulawayo. Previously employed by Spilkin & Newfield, co-partner Germiston Linen & Furniture Co. Member Bulawayo Hebrew Congregation, Byo Chevra Kadisha, Member Savyon Lodge Old Aged Home, Member Our Parents Home, Johannesburg. Served in World War II S.A.A.F obtained rank of Captain. Married Dorothy Kollenberg 11th January, 1951. Two daughters. Member Glendower Golf Club, Transvaal Automobile Club, Wanderers Club Bulawayo Golf Club. Recreations: Golf, Swimming. Add: 4 Bevan Avenue, Kumalo, Bulawayo. P.O. Box 1757 Bulawayo. (South African Jewry 1976/7)

Death

30 April 1986 (21 Nissan 5746) age 75 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was buried in the Westpark Cemetery there on 2 May 1986, Grave block V, no 2049

Tombstone

"Maurice Bryer 11th April 1911 - 30th April 1986. Lovingly remembered by his wife, children and grandchildren. Rest in Peace"

Jewishgen cemetery record for Maurice Bryer

Westpark cemetery record for Maurice 

Residence

In 1976 the family were living at 4 Bevan Avenue, Kumalo, Bulawayo, Rhodesia

Rose Frankel (1908 - 1984)

Rose Frankel is the wife of Nathan Bryer, a nephew of Rachel Levin, my 2x great aunt. Morris family HERE. Bryer family HERE

Parents: Gustav Frankel (1869 - 1937) and Augusta Gustchen Oppenheimer (1882 - 1956)

Born: 1 January 1908 in Roodepoort, South Africa

Siblings

• Fanny Frankel (1905 - 1982) married Walter Seehof (1903 - 1972) in Johannesburg, South Africa on 10 November 1930
• Beatrice Frankel (1912 - 1999) married Gunther Hermann (1909 - ?) in Johannesburg, South Africa on 24 December 1935

Married: Nathan Bryer on 31 December 1933 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Nathan and Rose were both almost 26 years old. They probably met on a student tour to the United States, which they both participated in (see travel section below)

Marriage certificate for Nathan and Rose, who were married in Johannesburg on 29 December 1933. Nathan was living at 15 Waverley Road, Bloemfontein and Rose at 12 Young Avenue, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg - her family home. The two witnesses, Fanny Seehoff (Nee Frankel) and Beatrice Frankel, were Rose's sisters.

Children

Their first child was born in 1935 when Nathan and Rose were both 27 years old. Their second child was born in 1938 when Nathan and Rose were both 30 years old

• Ronald Barry Bryer 1935 -
• Geoffrey Michael Bryer 1938 -

Travel

1928

Rose arriving in Southampton, England from Durban, South Africa aboard the Balmoral Castle. She arrived on 24 December 1928 and then proceeded to the USA. She is a student age 20

Rose travelling on 28 December 1928 from Liverpool, England to Boston, USA aboard either the Koriatio or the Adriatic. Her occupation is listed as student, she is age 20, and he is travelling 3rd class

1929

Rose travelling on 11 February 1929 from New York, USA to Liverpool, England aboard the Cedric. Her occupation is listed as student and she is age 21

Both Rose and her future husband Nathan were members of this student tour group (The Evening Sun, Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday, January 12, 1929)

Click on image to enlarge (Buffalo Evening News, Buffalo, New York · Monday, January 21, 1929)

Click on image to enlarge  (The Gazette, Montreal, Quebec, Canada · Friday, January 25, 1929)

Death

10 November 1984 age 76 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Shee was buried in the Westpark Cemetery there on 12 November 1984, Grave block V, no 734

Jewishgen cemetery record for Rose Bryer

Westpark cemetery record for Rose

Residence

Rose grew up in teh family home at 12 Young Avenue, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, South Africa