15 Facts About Bel Kaufman

Bella Kaufman was an American teacher and author, well known for writing the bestselling 1964 novel Up the Down Staircase.

Bella Kaufman was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1911, where her father was studying medicine.

Bel Kaufman's brother Sherwin, born nine years later, was a New York City physician.

Bel Kaufman emigrated to the United States in 1922 at age 12 with her parents.

Bel Kaufman first began learning English after her arrival in the United States but it was hard for her.

In 1936, Bel Kaufman graduated with a Master's degree in literature from Columbia University.

Kaufman began work as a teacher in various New York City high schools, while working part-time as a writer under the name Bel Kaufman, shortened because Esquire only accepted manuscripts from male authors.

Bel Kaufman later wrote several short stories and continued as a teacher and lecturer in New York City.

At 99 years old, Bel Kaufman was hired by her alma mater Hunter College in February 2011 to teach a course on Jewish humor.

Bel Kaufman turned 100 years old during her first semester of instruction.

Bel Kaufman married Sydney Goldstine in 1936 upon her graduation from Columbia University.

In 2010, Bel Kaufman celebrated her 99th birthday at the annual memorial to her famous grandfather, the Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem.

Bel Kaufman was still writing at age 101, in July 2012.

Bel Kaufman died at home in New York City on July 25,2014, aged 103.

Bel Kaufman was survived by her husband, Sidney Gluck; a brother, Sherwin Kaufman; her daughter, Thea Goldstine; her son, Jonathan Goldstine; and her granddaughter, Susan Goldstine.