Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Justice Nathan Dies at 73; Was Descendant of First Jewish Settlers

May 3, 1965
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Funeral services were held today for State Supreme Court Justice Edgar J. Nathan, Jr., who died here yesterday at the age of 73. He served as president of the Borough of Manhattan from 1942 to 1946.

A descendant of Abraham de Lucena, one of the 13 Jews who settled in New Amsterdam (later New York) in 1654, and of Rabbi Gershon Mendes Seixas, spiritual leader of New York’s Shearith Israel Congregation during the American Revolution, Justice Nathan had served as president of Shearith Israel, the famed Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, since 1951.

Born in New York City, Justice Nathan was named to the New York State Supreme Court bench in 1946. He served as secretary of the Jewish Family Service in New York from 1932 to 1946, and as a director and member of the executive committee of the American Ort Federation.

He was also active on behalf of the Jewish Welfare Board, American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Historical Society and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He served as chairman of the American Jewish Tercentenary Committee in 1954.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement