Kessel Hirsh (Hirsch) (Grigory) Israilevich (b. 1926, Riga) — chemical technician.

Hirsh Kessel was the son of Israel (Srul) Kesel (b. 1883, Odessa – d. 1948) and Gitel Kesel (née Bromberg) (b. 1895, Pinsk).

In 1940 he completed six grades at Riga Jewish Primary School. In 1940–41 he was a pupil at Riga Secondary School No. 17.

In 1941 he was evacuated to Kirov Oblast, where in 1941–42 he worked at the M.Yu.D. artel in Khalturin. In 1942–43 he continued his secondary education in Talitsa.

In 1943–45 he studied at the Chemical Technical School in Dzerzhinsk. In 1947 he graduated from the Riga Industrial Polytechnic as a chemical technician.

In 1947 he began working at the “Nitra” factory of the Latvian SSR Ministry of Local Industry (later Riga Paints and Varnishes Plant). His positions included:

Deputy Head of the Shop Laboratory (1947–48)
Foreman, Chemical Paints Shop (1948–51)
Foreman, Grinding Shop (1951–52)
Foreman, Artistic Paints Shop (1952–55)
Chief and Deputy Chief, Enamel Shop (1955–59)
Senior Technologist, Enamel Shop (1959–61)
Deputy Head, Varnish-Boiling Shop (1961–65)

Head of the Varnish Plant Section (1965–71).

In 1971 Hirsh Kessel and his mother received permission to emigrate to Israel, an invitation of his brother, Arne (Lev) Kessel (b. 1915, Riga), who had left Latvia in the 1930s for what is now the State of Israel.

Family:

Israel (Srul) Kesel (1883, Odessa – 1948) — father
Gitel Kesel (née Bromberg) (1895, Pinsk) — mother
Arne (Lev) Kessel (b. 1915, Riga) — brother
Yevgeny (Efim) Kesel (b. 1924, Riga) — brother
Leya Kesel (1919, Riga – 1922, Riga) — sister