Arnold Spielberg, father of director Steven Spielberg, dies aged 103

Steven Spielberg’s father, Arnold Spielberg, has died aged 103 it has been confirmed.

The retired electrical engineer passed away on 25 August from natural causes.

The news was announced by Amblin, Steven Spielberg’s production company, which released a statement online.

“After more than a century of contributions and commitment to his family, friends, and career, Arnold Meyer Spielberg, father of Steven, Anne, Sue and Nancy Spielberg, passed away of natural causes on August 25, 2020. Our deepest condolences to the Spielberg family.”

The World War II veteran was born to Ukrainian parents in Cincinnati, Ohio on 6 February, 1917, and for most of his life worked in the field of computing and electronics, earning him the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Pioneer Award in 2006. He is crediting with playing a crucial part in the development of electronic “point of sale” devices.

He enlisted in the US Army in January 1942 one month after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, joining the Signal Corps. After training as a radio-gunner, he was elevated to Communications Chief of a B-25 Squadron in India.

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He had four children Steven Spielberg, screenwriter Anne Spielberg, marketing executive Sue Spielberg and producer Nancy Spielberg, and is also survived by four stepchildren, eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.