Harry "Kid" Eli Ruckenstein

When a man writes a book about his life he struggles to remember his entire life. For me there was no struggle in remembering my 9 years in shanghai from 1939 to 1948. This is why my book begins with October 10, 1946 when warner brothers staged a championship fight in Shanghai to help promote the movie Gentleman Jim Harry was announced from ringside in this corner weighing 147 lbs. from shanghai Kid Ruckenstein, his opponent also weighing 147 from Russia Joe Young (Uravitzky). After 10 rounds of bitter fighting the winner and new welterweight champion of china “Kid Ruckenstein” But that was later.

I was born on December 10, 1919 in Berlin, Germany the son of Issak Ruckenstein and Johanna. My dad returned from World War I as sergeant in the German army. My dad worked in a restaurant as head waiter where he met my mother “Johanna” who was the chief cook in the same restaurant. After they go married, my mother quit working. I was the youngest off three. My sister Cilly was the oldest and my brother Salo was four years older than me. We lived in one bedroom apartment in a poor neighborhood, and I attended the achie volksschule during the Hitler era and was one of only three Jewish boys in the whole school. No one ever bothered me. Actually I was a toughie, but I stayed out of trouble. We did not live in fear during those years. My father being an ex-soldier in the German army during World War I should protect us from German propaganda against the Jews. We were in the mainstream of German life. My mother cooked every day for us. I can’t remember ever having a steak. That wasn’t the type of dish we had in Germany. I had my own bicycle, that was a big thing to go to work. In 1934 I started to box as an amateur in Berlin. I don’t know how many fights I had, but I know I never lost; my weight was about 105lbs.

Now that was about the time the Nazis were coming to power. It was just beginning. I saw a lot of fights in the street between the German communist and the Nazis that kept the pressure of the Jews. Until Hitler became the Reich Chancellor, Hindenburg was still the president. It was 1934; I was 15, when my dad took me to see the Reichstag on fire. I had no idea that the trouble against the Jews had started. Being a boxer helped me a lot during those times. I saw Hitler in person twice. Once in front of the Reichskanzlei, when everybody was Singing (me too) Wir Wollen Dem Führer Sehn Nieh Heavy Wir Nieh Gehn, when he came on the balcony we all screamed Heil Heil Heil. In august 1936 the Olympic Games were in Berlin.

After that came a lot of trouble for all the Jewish people. First the Kristallnacht, when theJewish businesses were robbed and destroyed. My father finally started to get worried, but it was getting too late to leave Germany. The only way out was to board passage on the Italian ship line Lloyd Triestino. My father made a down payment for one passage on the Conte Biancamano to Shanghai but not until 1939. My parents decided to use the ticket to send me out to safety to Shanghai.

My brother, Salo, meanwhile on the way to England was rerouted to Shanghai, where he arrived about 4 weeks before me. When I arrived in Shanghai, my brother was waiting for me. I remember the first question he asked me; Did you bring any money? The answer was NO. Only 20 American dollars, my bicycle and my clothes.

I was transported to a refugee camp where I lived for 9 years. While I was looking for a job or anything to keep me alive, I was approached by Max Buchbaum, a boxing trainer, who asked me if I wanted to be a professional boxer. I said OK, and started training to become a fighter.

I fought many; Russians, Americans, Japanese, Italians, Filipinos, funny never a Chinese.

Finally-

In 1949 I arrived in America. My first plan was to continue my boxing career; after all I brought my Championship Belt with me. And I was still the Welter Weight Champion of China.

But instead I ended up in the Hotel Business.

He has now joined his beloved wife of 60 years, “Shanghai Lil” Margie, and son Danny. Harry is survived by his daughter Johanna, son-in-law Burg, son Ron, grandsons Danny Kelly and wife Chris, Aaron Kelly and wife Heather and Danny Ruckenstein Jr., great grandsons Lucas, Leo, Joe, Isaiah, Shyann, and Danny R. III, cousin Pete and best friend Bill King.