Alexander/Alex Wasin was born August 15, 1890, in Taganrog, Russia, a port city on the Sea of Azov.
By 1918 he was a seaman, working as a marine engineer on ships traveling primarily between Bremen, Germany and New York City in the United States. He was living at 25 South St. in New York when he registered for the draft during WWI. At that time he stated that he was a Russian citizen, and that his mother and father were dependent on him for support.
Some of the ships that he was employed on during the 1920's were the SS Bellatrix, Auditor, Susquehanna, Princess Matoika, President Arthur, President Harding, and the America.
Alexander applied for a Seaman's Certificate of American Citizenship in February of 1918, and became a citizen of the United States on December 7, 1921.
On July 18, 1922 he married a young, blonde, blue-eyed German woman that he likely met during one of his voyages to Bremen. Anna Wasin was born May 3, 1896, in Dortmund, Germany, and at the time of her marriage was living at 11 Schillerstrasse in Lehe (a small market village that became part of the Bremen/Bremerhaven town complex.) The couple applied for a passport for Anna at the American Consulate in Bremen, which would allow her to emigrate to the United States.
In 1925 Alexander and Anna were living at 5986 Grand St. in Queens, where he worked as a machinist. By 1930 they had moved to 5937 Palmetto St., and Alex stated that he was a machinist in the iron industry. They supplemented his income by renting out a room in their home to a lodger.
In 1933 the couple traveled to Europe together, leaving Bremen, Germany on June 8th, and arriving back in New York City on June 18.
The advent of WWII required Alex (even at the age of 52) to once again register for the draft. They were then living at 5926 Linden St. (in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens), and Alex worked in Long Island City at Advance Metal Lithographing.
Anna Wasin died in May of 1975, and her last address was in Brooklyn. Prior to his death, Alex lived at Far Rockaway, Queens.
Alexander Wasin died January 30, 1980, at the Peninsula Hospital Center, and two and a half years later was finally laid to rest on Hart Island.
Sources: US Social Security Death Index; US Applications for Seaman's Protections Certificates, 1916-1940; NY, NY County Supreme Court Naturalization Petition Index, 1907-1924; US WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; NY, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; New Orleans, Passenger Lists, 1813-1963; US Passport Applications, 1795-1925; NY, State Census, 1925; 1930 US Federal Census; US WWII Draft Registration Cards, 1942; www.libertyellisfoundation.org.