Many people have wondered if Michael Behrens, the famous banker and philanthropist, is related to Catherine Behrens, the renowned obstetrician and gynecologist. The answer is not as simple as it may seem. Here is what we know about their possible connection.
The Behrens Family Tree
According to Wikipedia, Michael Behrens was born on 15 September 1911, in Kensington, London. His father was Noel Edward Behrens (1879–1967), a civil servant until his retirement in 1921 and then a banker, and his mother was Catherine Vivien Coward (1880–1961), the daughter of Sir Cecil Coward (1845–1938).
Michael Behrens had two siblings: Catherine Betty Abigail Behrens (1904–1989), who became a historian and academic, and Noel Cecil Behrens (1906–1978), who followed his father’s footsteps and became a banker.
Michael Behrens married Elizabeth Mary Hare (1914–2002) in 1937 and had four children: Edward Noel Behrens (1938–2019), David Michael Behrens (1940–2016), Elizabeth Anne Behrens (1942–) and Richard John Behrens (1945–).
The Mystery of Catherine Behrens
Catherine Behrens, on the other hand, is a much more elusive figure. According to AACC.org, she did her PhD research at University of California San Francisco and received her medical degree from Stanford Medical School where she also completed a Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She was in clinical practice for over 20 years and maintains board certification from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She returned to research in the women’s health field, initially at Genomic Health and then as a Senior Director of Clinical Research at Roche Molecular Systems. She currently serves as a consultant to Roche.
However, there is no information available about her date of birth, place of birth, parents, siblings or marital status. A search on Facebook reveals several profiles with the name Catherine Behrens, but none of them seem to match the description of the doctor.
The Verdict
Based on the available evidence, it seems unlikely that Michael Behrens and Catherine Behrens are related. They have different surnames at birth, different countries of origin, different fields of expertise and different generations. There is no indication that they have ever met or interacted with each other.
However, it is possible that they share some distant ancestors or relatives, given that the name Behrens is fairly common in Germany and other parts of Europe. It is also possible that there are some gaps or errors in the public records that could reveal a hidden link between them.
Therefore, the final answer to the question “Is Michael Behrens related to Catherine Behrens?” is: Probably not, but we cannot be sure.
