Benjamin Saul Karlin

Background

Ethnicity: Father's family emigrated from Belarus to USA. Mother's mother emigrated from Ukraine, father from Poland although he was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Benjamin Saul Karlin was born on October 30, 1954 at Mount Sinai Hospital on Chicago's West Side. The family residence was in Forest Park, Illinois in the near west suburbs. His father, Leonard Karlin, was a defense lawyer in private practice and mother, Margaret Sauer Karlin, cared for the home as well as assisted in her husband's practice as secretary. Both were active in numerous causes addressing disadvantaged populations. These included persons with handicaps and chronic illness, persons living in poverty, persons of color, and those espousing progressive political opinions.

Personality

Ben was raised and socialized with adults, especially with those having disabilities (physical, intellectual, cognitive, and psychological, alone and in combination). This exposure leads to an early and enduring interest in the diverse ways people comprehend the world around them and how that impacts their interactions with one another. This especially centered on the semiotic significance of linguistic tokens.

As a teenager, he was deeply influenced by the dada and surrealist philosophies. These grew in response to the international chaos which ushered in the First World War and challenged the association of meaning and symbols used in communication.

Connections

Father:

Leonard Karlin

Youngest of his five children.

Mother:

Margaret Sauer Karlin

Margaret Sauer Karlin cared for the home as well as assisted in her husband's practice as secretary.