Nathan Pivnik

tbmq-144Nathan (Nat, as he was known) was one of seven children born to Fajgla and Leib in Bedzin, Poland. He had two sisters and four brothers. His mother Fajgla was 38 years old and his father Leib was 49 years old. His sisters Handel 21, Hanna 13 and his brothers Mayer 16, Wolf 8 and Yossel 6, were all gassed in Auschwitz in August 1943. Only Nat and one brother survived the holocaust.


In 1947 Nat arrived in London and stayed with an aunt and uncle. He became acquainted with some of ‘the Boys’ in Stamford Hill and soon became one of ‘The Boys’ himself. He studied his trade as a gentlemen’s tailor from his father in Bedzin. He commenced his working life in London’s West End in the tailoring trade. In later life he decided to work for himself at home, which included garment alterations for both men and women. Hence you will note the swatches of material, buttons, cotton reels, scissors, etc. on Nathan’s square.
Sadly we were not blessed with our own children. However and thankfully we have our family who live in Ramat Gan, Israel, all of whom also became Nat’s family. He loved his brother-in-Law, sister-in-Law, nephews and niece. We visited each other often. He will always be remembered and loved by his ‘family’.

Jill Pivnik

Posted in Memory Quilts.