In loving memory of
Ben Guefen
March 22, 1929 - April 14, 2022
Ben Guefen, 93, of Houston, Texas peacefully passed away on Thursday, April 14, 2022. He was born on March 22, 1929 to Miguel Guefen and Sofia Schuster in Kaunas, Lithuania. The family moved to Mexico City in the early 1930's where Ben grew up.
From an early age, Ben was intrigued and very passionate about Jewish people from Eastern Europe residing in Palestine. At the age of 12, Ben got involved with the Youth Zionist Movement and at age 20 moved to Israel soon after it became a county to study and be further trained to become a Zionist youth leader in a known youth group named Hanoar Hatzioni. The group's core mission was to educate young people on the importance of the survival of the new country of Israel and get them to immigrate to help support the country. Ben knew that the support of young people around the world and working the land of the new country of Israel was vital to its survival. While studying in Israel, Ben was instrumental in building a Kibbutz in the very early days of Israel's existence.
After his youth training, Ben moved back to Mexico City where he started a branch of Hanoar Hatzioni. A year later after the groups start in Mexico, Ben then moved to Cuba for about 6 months to start the same youth movement in Cuba. After Cuba, Ben along with his new wife moved to Israel where he lived on the Kibbutz that he helped build.
Ben later moved back to Mexico City, where he worked for his father in the brick manufacturing industry, he then worked for a private group and under Ben's guidance got the license to make clothing for Walt Disney, and eventually Ben started his own successful business in the mid 1960's that produced concrete blocks and cement products used in the building construction industry. While in Mexico, Ben was very involved in the Centro Deportivo Israelita which was the equivalent of the Jewish Community Center in the USA. Additionally, Ben was one of the founders of the Tel Aviv Country Club which was the first sports and social club in Israel.
Ben and his family moved to La Jolla, Ca in the late 1970's where he was a successful real estate developer and investment manager. In 1989 while in Houston, Tx, Ben met his second wife Arline Finn who became the love of his life and they soon married living an exceptional life together traveling the world over for 30 years. Ben and Arline resided in Houston where Ben was very active in the Houston Jewish Community.
Ben is survived by his wife, 3 children, 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Ben was also very close to Arline's 3 children. Ben's mantra was to always "Enjoy Life" which he did in great style.
A graveside service will be held on Monday afternoon, April 18, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77074. Shiva will be held on Monday at 6:00 PM at the home of Adam & Susan Finn. For those wishing to view the service via Live Stream please use the following Zoom link:
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