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KYIV, UKRAINE – 06 March, 2015: Blinken meeting with President of Ukraine Poroshenko, palinchak/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Antony John Blinken
Place of Birth: Yonkers, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 16, 1962
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Antony Blinken is an American government official, lawyer, and diplomat. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as U.S. Secretary of State, from January 26, 2021 to January 20, 2025. He was previously National Security Advisor to the Vice President, from January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2013, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor, from January 20, 2013 to January 9, 2015, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, from January 9, 2015 to January 20, 2017.
Antony is the son of Judith and Donald M. Blinken (Donald Mayer Blinken), a businessperson and diplomat, who co-founded private equity firm Warburg Pincus; and served as U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, from April 1, 1994 to November 20, 1997. His uncle, Alan Blinken, is a businessperson, diplomat, and politician, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, from July 25, 1993 to December 27, 1997. Alan was married to Melinda Koch, the great-aunt of actor Cooper Koch . Antony’s great-grandfather was author Meir Blinken, who published about 50 fiction and non-fiction works in Yiddish.
Antony’s stepfather was lawyer and author Samuel Pisar, who was born in Poland, and survived the Holocaust. Antony was partly raised in Paris, France, with his mother and stepfather.
Antony is married to public servant Evan Ryan, who was Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, from September 26, 2013 to January 5, 2017, and White House Cabinet Secretary, from January 20, 2021 to January 20, 2025. The couple has two children.
Antony’s paternal grandfather was Maurice Henry Blinken (the son of Meir/Meyer Blinken/Blinkin and Anna Turefsky). Maurice was born in Kiev, now Ukraine, and immigrated to the U.S. He helped establish the American Palestine Institute, and was an early supporter of Israel. Antony’s great-grandfather Meir was born in Pereiaslav, Poltava Governorate, Russian Empire, now Ukraine, the son of Yankel Blenchen/Blinkin and Rys/Ruth Kelman.
Antony’s paternal grandmother was Ethel Horowitz (the daughter of Morris Horowitz and Kate Rosthal). Ethel was born in New York, to a Russian Jewish father and a Polish Jewish mother. Kate was born in Żabno, Tarnowski, Poland, the daughter of Bernard Rosthal/Rustahl and Rachel/Ruchel Berkowitz.
Antony’s maternal grandfather was Solomon J. Freedman/Frehm (the son of Morris Freedman/Frehm and Ethel Ramer). Solomon was born in New York, to Hungarian Jewish parents. Morris was the son of Salomon Friedman and Esther Samunowitz. Ethel was the daughter of Markus Ramer and Katie Groeber.
Antony’s maternal grandmother was Beatrice Gottsegen (the daughter of David Gottsegen and Lena/Lee Kaufman). Beatrice was born in New York, to Hungarian Jewish parents. David was the son of Samuel Gottsegen and Jennie Berger. Lena was the daughter of Isaac Kauffman and Esther Weitz.
Sources: Genealogy of Antony Blinken – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Antony’s father – https://www.findagrave.com
Antony’s paternal grandmother, Ethel Horowitz, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Antony’s maternal grandfather, Solomon J. Freedman/Frehm, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org