Nathan Reiff

Nathan (Nate) Reiff, 97, of White Plains, NY, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 13, 2024. Born in 1927 to Fannie Reiff Greenfield (née Borgenicht) and Louis Reiff, he was raised on 89th Street and Broadway in Manhattan, attended the High School of Commerce and Hunter College, and then graduated from the University of Miami. He served in the Navy towards the end of World War II. Nate was a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend to many.

In 1952, he married the love of his life, Florence Reiff (née Stern) and remained happily married for the next 71 years. Nate worked in the garment industry and was recognized as a top textile salesman for his integrity and dedication. During the mid-1950s, he and Florence moved from New York City to the suburbs of White Plains, where they raised their three sons.

Nate had numerous interests, most notably was his lifelong appreciation of classical music and its composers. He played the piano, studied and lectured at the university level, and over the years developed an extensive music collection. In his earlier years, during the 1940s, he was an usher at Carnegie Hall, where he watched the NBC Symphony Orchestra play and met many greats, including the Maestro, Arturo Toscanini.

Nate and Florence traveled extensively and had a wonderful social life among dozens of their close friends over the decades. Nate was a true connoisseur of wines, a cigar aficionado, and a dedicated poker player, enjoying weekly card games with his neighborhood buddies. He was an active member of the Old Guard for the last two decades and was voted Man of the Year in 2004. Nate played a good game of tennis and valued staying physically fit. He was an avid swimmer, swimming even into his early nineties. From his many life experiences, he became a great storyteller. He especially enjoyed recounting the time that he, as a youngster, had the good fortune to meet the great Babe Ruth.

Nate is preceded in death by Florence Reiff, his wife, and survived by his three sons David (of Manhattan), Geoff (of Raleigh, NC), and Paul (wife Leslie, both of Raleigh, NC), and his twin grandchildren Alyssa and Adam; his brother, Dr. Theodore Reiff (wife Brenda, d.); his son Eric; sister-n-law Janet (husband Lionel, d.); her children Jill (husband Barry), Howard (wife Judi), and Eddie (wife Shirley); and her grandchildren Mitchell (partner Lindsay), Melissa (husband Brett, son Owen and daughter Olivia), Elise, Emily, and Jarod.

Nathan stayed alert and active during his final years living at The Ambassador of Scarsdale Assisted Living Facility. His family members express their deepest gratitude to their staff and to Nate's companions, especially Ana, Lesly, Melany, Denisse, and Roberth, who provided kindness and wonderful care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nathan's memory to https://mazon.org or The Old Guard of Westchester https://www.oldguardofwestchester.org