El Paso Holocaust Museum Founder Henry Kellen dead at 98
The founder of El Paso’s Holocaust Museum & Study Center and a tireless advocate for Holocaust awareness died in El Paso Thursday. Henry Kellen was 98 years old.
“It should not be forgotten, and never be repeated,” Kellen told ABC-7 in 2005.
Kellen’s collection of Holocaust artifacts and educational materials became one of the country’s most complete. Thousands have learned about the horrors of war and the resiliency of the human spirit thanks to Kellen.
“We will remind young people of America what did happen,” said Hellen. “Hopefully the history of human tragedy will never happen again.”
Kellen was imprisoned in a ghetto in his 20s, then fled and lived in hiding aided by a Lithuanian farmer until the end of the war.
Kellen and his wife Julia survived the Holocaust. His parents, brother and sister did not.
After immigrating to the U.S. In 1946, Kellen settled in El Paso and became a salesman for Rio Grande Sales Company. He learned English and Spanish and had continued success at The Popular El Paso Clothiers, Henry’s Men’s Store and Hollywood Store for Men.
“Like many survivors, Kellen rarely spoke of his Holocaust experience,” states a news release from the Holocaust museum. However, that changed in the 1980s when he became aware of Holocaust deniers.
“Angry that anyone would deny his family’s fate, Kellen began collecting Holocaust memorabilia, artifacts, and education materials, which he housed in a conference room at the El Paso Jewish Federation.”
That was the genesis of the Holocaust Museum and Study Center.
In 2009, Hellen was awarded the Conquistador award, the highest honor bestowed by the city of El Paso.
“I don’t think I’m deserving because I didn’t do it for myself, I did it for the community,” Kellen said then. “I sure appreciate the City of El Paso did not forget me.”
Kellen died in his sleep, surrounded by family, said Jamie Williams, the museum’s education director.
Services will be at Congregation B’Nai Zion at 11 a.m. Friday.
