Nandor Lazar

Nandor Lazar VIRGINIA BEACH - Nandor Lazar, 98, died in Norfolk June 30, 2009. Nandor was born in Somkerek, Hungary, June 18, 1911, the son of the late Abraham and Peppi Stern Lazar. Although he had only an elementary school education, he was a self-taught inventor and chemist. In Hungary, before World War II, he formulated and marketed soap, hand lotions and creams. When World War II started, Hungary was allied with the Axis Powers. Nandor was impressed into a forced labor battalion for the Hungarian Army, and then he was interned in the Mauthausen death camp. Through sheer force of will and ingenuity, he survived the Holocaust, and was liberated by the U.S. Army, May 5, 1945. After living in a displaced persons camps for more than five years, Nandor immigrated to the United States in 1951. He settled in Norfolk where he was adopted into the family of Szaja and Ruth Lida, also Holocaust survivors. The Lidas, and their daughter Anna Lida Karp, remained his loving family for almost six decades. Mr. Lazar was a member of B'Nai Israel for 40 years and has been a member of Temple Israel for the past 12 years. Because of his lack of formal education, he worked as a grocery clerk, but he practically ran the store. After he retired, he devoted his time to volunteer work especially at the Senior Citizens Program of the Jewish Community Center when it was located on Newport Avenue in Norfolk. He was the JCC's all-around handyman. Whenever anything needed fixing or organization, they called Nandor. He was sweet and kind and thoughtful, and he was also as ornery as can be; if he had something on his mind (and he ALWAYS had something on his mind), he'd let you know. He thought of himself as a shy loner, but everyone who met him loved him for his kindness and respected his brilliant mind. Even at 98, his mind was as sharp as ever. At the age of 97 ¾, he was still living in his apartment and taking care of himself (with a little help from Meals-on-Wheels, provided by Jewish Family Service). After a fall in March 2009, Nandor finally accepted the inevitable and moved into the Beth Sholom Village Nursing Home. His first two months at Beth Sholom were probably the happiest days of his life. In addition to the loving care provided by the staff, he was frequently surrounded by friends and admirers, whom he regaled with his wit and enlightened with his wisdom. He is survived by members of his surrogate family, Ruth Lida and Anna Karp, and his devoted friend, Mark Solberg. Rabbi Michael Panitz of Temple Israel and Cantor Elihu Flax of the Beth Shalom Village will conduct a graveside service at Forest Lawn Cemetery at 3 p.m. today, July 1, with a Meal of Consolation to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to Jewish Family Service or the Beth Sholom Village, both in Virginia Beach. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.altmeyer.com.