Chismedia, Alexander (Alex)

Son of Elizabeth and Aaron Zvi. He was born in 1946 in Romania and was four years old when he immigrated to Israel in 1950. His parents, one of the first settlers in Ashkelon, were traditional and began his education at the Asaf elementary school in Ashkelon, In Jaffa, where he studied for three years and continued his high school studies at Yeshivat HaDarom in Rehovot and after a year moved to the Shenkar College of Engineering in Ramat Gan where he trained as a textile technician, He underwent training in basic training, and later a technical cadres course in the Ordnance Corps. He graduated with honors. His commander wrote: “He is an outstanding trainee, with a very good perception.” During his service, he was orphaned by his father and was given the task of caring for his family. At the request, he was shortened to two years of military service and in September 1968 was discharged from compulsory service, but continued to serve in his reserves unit as a car and personnel officer. He was talented and devoted, was involved in the unit and contributed greatly to its success. Alex took part in the Yom Kippur and Peace-Galilee wars and received war signals. He married Yehudit and the two built their home in Rehovot. Over the years their four children, Aharon-Zvi, David-Arie, Yael and Gilad-Eli were born. From an early age Alexander worked in sports and especially in volleyball. In the early seventies he was head of the volleyball division of the Elitzur group in Kiryat Gat. Later he set up two volleyball teams in the streets and even played in one of them. Alexander was also a referee in the field of volleyball and also an international referee for the handicapped and judged several competitions in Europe. Alexander completed his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and geography and worked as a teacher, first in Even Shmuel, near Kiryat Gat, then at the Shauli School in Yavneh, at the Yeshivat Hadarom in Rehovot, Kfar Eliyahu and Givat Washington. On the 20th of Kislev 5749 (November 20, 1988) Alexander fell in the line of duty in a road accident while on his way to reserve duty. He was laid to rest at the civil cemetery in Rehovot. He was forty-two years old when he fell. He left behind a wife, three sons, a daughter, and a sister – Rachel.