george's father, herman george kaiser, had been an attorney in the district of the kammergericht in berlin until 1933, when he was dismissed by the nazis because he was jewish. he and his wife kate then moved to rostock where herman kaiser worked with his father-in-law max samuel's emsa-werke company. herman kaiser escaped to england in 1937 and his wife and daughter came over in september the following year. in 1940 all three emigrated to the united states. they settled in tulsa, where herman's aunt and uncle already lived. herman joined the uncle's oil drilling business. their son was born in tulsa. herman died in tulsa on october 14, 1992 at the age of 88.