Alexander was born in Neuss, Germany in 1937. During the war, his family was evacuated from the city into the countryside to avoid bombing that was taking place in urban areas.

   He describes having to walk with his family for 2 or 3 weeks to get back to his hometown when he was 7 years old. He and other children would play in crumbled buildings that had been bombed. Alexander remarked on how resilient children are, and how they can find ways to play even in dire circumstances. Living on a farm exposed him to death at a young age, though it was not commonly talked about in his family. He lost his dad at the age of 10, but this, too, was not much talked about.

   Alexander moved to Vancouver with his wife and 2 kids in 1967. He told me he left Germany because “there were too many Germans over there.” within two days, he had a job painting houses. It wasn’t long before he and his family moved to Powell River, where they had another child.

   Alexander lost his first wife to breast cancer when he was 50 years old, and has since remarried. He is currently dealing with heart problems, his main artery being blocked, and has to take medication regularly in order to stay healthy. His approach to death is pragmatic, “I can’t change it anyway, why should I sit around and mope?”.

   When talking about being ill, he told me, “You know how I do that [deal with being ill]? I look at the kids in the hospital…that helps me accept my fate because they haven’t even lived…and I’ve abused my body for 80 years so, when you’ve got to go you’ve got to go.” When I asked Alexander how he makes the most of the time he has, he told me he sings with a few music groups and he likes to build things.

   When I asked what he’s grateful for he said, “I am grateful I am still alive.” Shortly after, he laughed and added that he was grateful for both his wives and his kids.