About Author

Meet David Tonner

David Tonner grew up hearing his grandmother casually mention a tie to Albert Einstein — a passing comment he spent years turning into Special Relatives.

About David Tonner

David Tonner obtained degrees in physics and engineering from the University of Toronto and also obtained an Air Transport Pilot Licence. He held careers as a Petroleum Engineer and Commercial Pilot. After years of researching his family history, he finally decided to write a book on his Winteler family relationship to Albert Einstein and the impact they had on each other’s lives. He still finds time to fly, play guitar, perform in live theatre, paint, learn karate and learn Italian in Italy. In recent years, while choosing to camp in the open wild of Tanzania and Namibia, he met two families whom he helps personally to improve their quality of life. The Special Relatives story is his first book. He’s thinking that his Africa experiences might be next!

Einstein? We’re Actually Related?

I showed my grandmother one of my university textbooks — Special Relativity, Albert Einstein’s theory of space and time. She casually said, ‘you know, there is a family connection to Albert Einstein.’ I waited for her to laugh. It didn’t come.

How We Got Here

My Journey to Write

Written by David Tonner, the great-great grandson of Professor Dr. Jost Winteler, ’Special Relatives’ is a historically important and emotionally powerful book that presents previously unpublished insights into Albert Einstein’s life and his lifelong personal relationship with individual Wintelers. This family history draws upon multiple sources that assert the influence of young Einstein’s mentor and housefather—the brilliant Professor Dr. Jost Winteler— and his dynamic family as an under-rated important influence on Einstein’s personal, spiritual, scientific, and philosophical development. This book provides a compelling blend of romance, intellectual camaraderie, tragedy, and legacy around the family tie through marriage and the impact the Wintelers’ nurturing had on him, and his life on them. The rigorous research in the various archives for letters reveal previously unpublished stories of their intertwined lives. And yes, Albert’s intense romance with Marie Winteler is mentioned briefly in some biographies, but it is shallow and far from complete. Special Relatives exposes formerly buried information, which will be surprising to Einstein history enthusiasts.

Exclusive Preview

Get a Sneak Peek Inside the Book

Curious about the untold connection between Albert Einstein and the Winteler family? Dive into the opening chapter of this soon-to-be-released book and uncover the early bonds, influences, and pivotal relationships that helped shape a genius.

P.S. If you made it all the way down here—hi, fellow curious mind ?. Yes, I’m writing a book. It’s about the incredible, mostly untold family ties between Albert Einstein and the Wintelers. If that piqued your interest, scroll back up and drop your email. You’ll be the first to know when I make the big announcement (and maybe get a few behind-the-scenes surprises too).