Alfred Bader

Alfred Bader passed away December 23, 2018 at the age of 94. Alfred Bader's life weaves together the fabric of a lost Europe. He was born in Vienna. His father was Jewish and died when Alfred was just 2 weeks old. His mother was the daughter of a Catholic-Hungarian count. Alfred was raised by an aunt. Just weeks after the 1938 Kristallnacht attack on Jewish-owned businesses, buildings and synagogues across Germany, Alfred was part of an early wave of 10,000 Jewish youths allowed into Britain. In 1940, Alfred Bader and other German-speaking refugees were rounded up as the British feared the rise of so-called Fifth Columnists. He was eventually shipped to an internment camp in Canada. In the autumn of 1941, he was released into the care of a patron and made his way into Queen's University, where he earned degrees in chemistry and history. Alfred Bader co-founded Aldrich Chemicals in 1951 out of a rented garage in Milwaukee. The firm later merged and is now part of Sigma-Aldrich Corp. A noted philanthropist, Alfred Bader has given tens of millions of dollars to his alma mater, Queen's University in Canada, and millions more to other causes. He is also an avid art collector. Isabel Bader has a keen interest in drama, music and early learning. He went on to Harvard University and completed a PhD in organic chemistry. It was on a 1949 trans-Atlantic cruise from Canada to Liverpool that he met the first great love of his life, Isabel Overton, who came from a devout Protestant family. He proposed to her nine days after they met. During an era when intermarriage among faiths was rare, she decided that Alfred should marry someone who was Jewish so that he could raise a family. He eventually met and married Helen Daniels, a South Dakota native who earned a degree in botany at Downer College in Milwaukee. Known as Danny, Helen converted to Judaism, raised two sons and helped her husband in the business. Alfred and Helen divorced in 1981. He then married his lost love, Isabel. Helen and Alfred Bader's sons, Daniel and David Bader, who serves as vice president, help oversee their foundation's work. Beloved husband of Isabel Bader (nee Overton) and the late Helen Bader (nee Daniels). Cherished father of David (Michelle Berrong) Bader and Daniel (Linda) Bader. Loving grandfather of Helena, Isaiah, Noa, Faye, Carlos, Alex, and Jessie Bader.