Arthur Ashkin akaberekerwa muBrooklyn, New York, muna 1922, mumhuri yechiUkraine-chiJudha. Vabereki vake vaive Isadore naAnna Ashkin. Aive nevanin'ina vaviri, mukoma, Julius, zvakare nyanzvi yefizikisi, uye hanzvadzi, Ruth. Mukoma mukuru, Gertrude, akafa achiri mudiki. Imba yemhuri yaive muBrooklyn, New York, pa 983 E 27 Street. Isadore (né Ashkinazi) aive atamira kuUnited States achibva kuOdessa (panguva iyoyo Humambo hweRussia, ikozvino Ukraine), aine makore gumi nemasere. Anna, ane makore mashanu mudiki, akabvawo kuUkraine yanhasi, ipapo Galicia, Humambo hweAustria-Hungary. Mukati memakore gumi ekumhara kwake muNew York, Isadore aive ave mugari wemuUS uye aimhanyisa rabhoritari yeDental pa139 Dely Street muManhattan. Ashkin akasangana nemukadzi wake, Aline Cornell, kuYunivhesiti yeCornell, uye hanzvadzi yake, Gertrude, akafa achiri mudiki.
Isadore