George Mendelsohn, great Maccabian, turns 90

Maccabi South Africa wishes lifelong Maccabian, George Mendelsohn, a happy 90th birthday.

Born in Berlin, Germany, on 12 March 1931, George left Germany five years later with his mother and sister on The Stuttgart, the last ship to bring Jewish refugees from Germany to South Africa.

He joined Maccabi South Africa, becoming a respected administrator and leader of the organisation for more than 20 years.

George attended seven Maccabi Games in various capacities: 1973 (football manager/coach); 1977 (SA team assistant manager); 1981 (general manager); 1985 (head of delegation); 1989 (joint head of delegation); 1993 (joint head of delegation); and 1997 (Yakir Award recipient).

He served as chairperson of Maccabi SA from 1982 to 1987. He became honorary life president in 1994. In 1997, he received the prestigious global Yakir Award, which is the highest honour bestowed by Maccabi World Union for outstanding services to Maccabi.

George and Barbara (married for 64 years) have three children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. George’s son, Alan, competed in judo at the 1981 Maccabi Games, winning a bronze medal, and he was judo manager at the 1997 games. Grandsons Jay Budler competed in rugby in 2009, and Natan Mendelsohn in soccer in 2013.