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Glen Cove, NY—Mayer Udell, patriarch of London Jewelers’ Udell family, died Tuesday. He was 96.

Born in Poland, Udell grew up helping to run a family farm. But as the Nazi regime grew and World War II was beginning, his mother insisted he emigrate to the United States for his safety. According to his obituary in Newsday, both Udell’s mother and a sister who remained in Poland perished in the Holocaust.

Arriving in New York, Udell worked for an uncle who owned a sweater factory in the Bronx. He later opened two sweater factories of his own, becoming a successful textile merchant.

In 1946, Udell married Fran London, daughter of London Jewelers’ founder Charles London. Shortly thereafter, he sold his sweater factories and invested in the jewelry store, eventually taking ownership and serving as London Jewelers’ chairman from 1947 to 1990. He never officially retired; even up to the time of his death, he remained active in the business, meeting with Mark Udell (current CEO) every morning, and doing some watch repairs and engraving.

The Udell family of London Jewelers. Back row, left to right: Zachary, Mark, Mayer, Randi, and Allyn Udell. Front row, left to right: Scott, Jessica, Candy, and Fran Udell. Canine: Zoey, Chloe, Bailey, and Harley.

Udell was an active philanthropist, and served in many capacities in his synagogue, Congregation Tifereth Israel in Glen Cove. "He taught us that giving back to his community and the people who surrounded him was the most important thing in life," said Mark Udell in Newsday. "You work hard, you earn a livelihood and then you must give back to people who are in need."

Udell is survived by Fran, his wife of 68 years; son Ira and daughter-in-law Allyn Udell; son Mark and daughter-in-law Candy Udell; nine grandchildren and spouses: Erin and Leigh Minsky, Randi and Scott Alper, Jared, Riki, Scott, Jessica, and Zachary Udell; and five great-grandchildren, Alexander, Avery, and Austin Minsky, Sienna Alper and Blake Udell.

Top image: Newsday