Eli Heckscher
Heckscher was born in Stockholm, son of the Jewish Danish-born businessman Isidor Heckscher and his spouse Rosa Meyer, and completed his secondary education there in 1897. He studied at Uppsala University and Gothenburg University, completing his PhD in Uppsala in 1907. He was professor of Political economy and Statistics at the Stockholm School of Economics from 1909 until 1919, when he exchanged that chair for a research professorship in economic history, finally retiring as emeritus professor in 1945. In 1929 Heckscher founded the Institute for Economic History Research.
Alek Keshishian
Alek was raised in Manchester, New Hampshire in the USA along with his sister Aleen by their Armenian parents Kevork and Cecile Keshishian. His parents are frequently seen on segments of "Chelsea Lately", known as 'Keeping Up With the Keshishians'. While he was a superb student of math and sciences, and his father wished Alek would follow in his footsteps in medicine, Alek's talent and passion for music, theatre, and dance was too strong. As a youngster, both he and his sister toured with the NH Children's Theatre, American Children's Theatre, and the "I Like the U.S. of A." National Touring Company. While studying at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, he quickly became one of the program's lead dancers. Before graduating from Harvard University, he co-produced the then 137-year Harvard tradition of the Hasty Puddings. The Hasty Pudding Show at Harvard has included Jack Lemmon and Fred Gwynne.