Nathan Jay

BOCA RATON, FLA. - Longtime Commerce businessman Nathan Jay, 89, died on March 12, 2010, after a long illness.

The son of Harry and Rose Jay, he was born in Eatonton Dec. 20, 1920. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
Mr. Jay lived most of his adult life in Athens. He was a merchant and owner of a 77-year-old family business, Jay’s Department Store, in Commerce. He had retired and moved to Boca Raton, Fla., 10 years ago with his wife of 64 years, Annette.

Mr. Jay is survived by his wife; a son, David Jay and wife Barbara, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; daughter, Marsha and husband Jon, of Greensboro, N.C.; three grandchildren, Chan Glazman, Athens, Ryan Jay, Rocky Mount, N.C., and Hilary Rieck and her husband John, Charleston, S.C.; a great-granddaughter, Eva Rieck, Charleston, S.C.; and a sister, Gladys Pertschuk, Boynton Beach, Fla. A sister, Beatrice Gurkin, Rahway, N.J., died earlier.

Mr. Jay was a longstanding member of Congregation Children of Israel in Athens, where he was a past president of the congregation. He was also a member of Temple Beth El in Boca Raton; was a life governor and past president of the State of Georgia B’nai Brith; and an International Hillel Commissioner.

Mr. Jay was an active member of many civic organizations such as the Commerce Kiwanis Club and the chambers of commerce in Athens and Commerce.

He was buried in Boca Raton.

The family requests that expressions of sympathy be made in a memorial contribution to Hospice or the charity of your choice.