Birth Name: Ruben Samuel Fleischer
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C., U.S.
Date of Birth: October 31, 1974
Ethnicity:
*Ashkenazi Jewish (father)
*Welsh, likely Ukrainian (mother, who converted to Judaism)
Ruben Fleischer is an American film director and producer, television producer, and music video and commercial director.
Ruben is the son of Karen Lee (Samuel) and David Elliot Fleischer. Ruben’s father is Jewish. Ruben’s mother, who is of Welsh and Ukrainian descent, converted to Judaism upon their marriage.
Ruben’s paternal grandfather was Jack Fleischer (the son of Ruben/Rubin Fleischer and Rose/Fanny). Jack was born in New York, to parents from Russia.
Ruben’s paternal grandmother was Irma Lee Zimmerman (the daughter of David Elliot Zimmerman and Esther Segal). David was the son of Max/Mordecai Chesler Zimmerman, who was from Lithuania, and of Esther Sussie Fleischman, who was from Poland. Ruben’s great-grandmother Esther was the daughter of Abraham Segal and Rachel Kudysch/Kudisch, who were from Kiev, Ukraine.
Ruben’s maternal grandfather was Haydn Samuel/Samuels (the son of Haydn/Hayden J. Samuel/Samuels and Hattie Crandon). Ruben’s great-grandfather Haydn was the son of Rees/Reese Samuels, who was Welsh, and of Rachel Jones, whose own parents were Welsh. Hattie was the daughter of William Thomas Crandon and Mary C. Thomas, who were from Tredegar and Bedwellty, Monmouth, Wales, respectively.
Ruben’s maternal grandmother was Dorothy Natishyn (the daughter of Alexandrew “Alex” Natishyn and Mary Lesavage). Alexandrew and Mary were born in either Poland or Austria.
The surname Natishyn/Hnatyshin/Gnatyshyn (Гнати́шин) likely has origins in the Ukrainian portion of Bukovina, in Central Europe (now Ukraine).
Sources: Genealogy of Ruben Fleischer (focusing on his mother’s side) – http://www.genealogy.com
Ruben’s paternal grandfather, Jack Fleischer, on the 1930 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Ruben’s paternal grandfather, Jack Fleischer – http://www.legacy.com
Genealogy of Ruben’s paternal grandmother, Irma Lee Zimmerman – http://www.geni.com
Obituary of Ruben’s paternal grandmother, Irma Lee Zimmerman – http://www.genealogybuff.com
Ruben’s maternal great-grandfather, Haydn/Hayden J. Samuel/Samuels, on the 1910 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Ruben’s maternal great-grandparents, Haydn J. Samuel/Samuels and Hattie Crandon – http://www.familysearch.org
Ruben’s maternal grandmother, Dorothy Natishyn, on the 1930 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Ruben’s maternal great-uncle (grandmother’s brother), John Natishyn – http://articles.mcall.com
Photo by s_bukley/www.bigstockphoto.com/