Obituary Mr L. D. Nathan

Press, 23 April 1987, Page 6

Obituary Mr L. D. Nathan

PA Auckland Mr Lawrence David Nathan, former chief executive and chairman of the family business of L. D. Nathan, has died. He was 77. He had recently undergone surgery. Mr Nathan joined Nathan and Company in 1928, retiring as chief executive in 1975, as chairman in 1977, and as a director in 1980. The business, now known as Nathan Group, was established by his great-grandfather. In 1965 Mr Nathan was

awarded the 0.8. E. for local body and community service. Mr Nathan was a member of the Auckland Harbour Board for 27 years from 1949, serving as deputy chairman then chairman in the 19505. He was president of the Symphonia of Auckland Foundation and chairman of the Auckland Observatory Trust Board. From 1952 until 1976 he was president of the Auckland Hebrew Congregation. Mr Nathan was a keen yachtsman, and sailed in offshore races such as the

Sydney-Hobart, Whan-garei-Noumea, AucklandSuva and Auckland-Raro-tonga. He was a New Zealand fencing champion. At Cambridge University, where he graduated master of arts, he represented the university against Oxford, and England against Scotland, and reached the British epee finals. Mr Nathan served in the Middle East in World War 11, from 1940 to 1943. He reached the rank of lieutenant, and served until he lost a leg at Tripoli.