Stryker, Emil

Born deaf into a Jewish family at Wurzburg, Germany; at first attended a regular Jewish school, then transferred to a school for the deaf. Became a bookkeeper in his father's business until the rise of the Nazis. Went into hiding in 1938; in 1939, he was expelled to Poland, but then returned to Germany in severely damaged health. Escaped from a German hospital and then from Germany itself, settling in England where he learned English and became heavily involved with Jewish and general deaf activities and organizations. Married Jane Gedlovitch, also deaf, in 1941. Organized the first British deaf tennis tournament in 1951. Founder of the World Organization of Jewish Deaf in 1977.