Nathaniel Pollack

Nat Pollack was born in the Bronx, New York City in 1925 to Sarah and Morris Pollack. He attended Peter Stuyvesant High School in New York City for gifted students and after graduation at age 17, he answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the US Navy. He toured primarily in the South Pacific and returned home at the war's end to attend college. He was passionate about four things: the American way of life & freedom, Israel, baking and teaching.

Not long after returning from WWII, Nat answered another call to arms as a volunteer in the creation of modern Israel by joining the Irgun Zvai Leumi and serving as an engineer aboard the ill-fated ship, the "Altalena." He is one of a few surviving members of the vessel that attracted worldwide attention as a focal point in the dispute between rival factions: Irgun and Palmach.

When he returned to the US, Nat a master pastry chef and baker, owned the famed "Paris Pastry Shop" in Jersey City, N.J. and later, Walter's Bakery in Montvale, N.J. He was well-known for cream cakes of all kind but especially for the creation of the "California Fruit Bar." His baked goods were popular and some of his most notable customers included Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. He was also commissioned to create the 50th wedding anniversary cake for Frank Sinatra's parents. Even former President Nixon's family members enjoyed birthday cakes baked by Nat.

Nat loved to teach. In 1983, he moved to Israel, and for almost ten years, he provided baking courses to residents of many kibbutzim. After moving to Palm Desert, he joined the forces of VOCA (Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance), teaching modern baking techniques in developing countries and went on over 20 assignments to far, distant places that included Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Zambia, the Republic of Georgia, Siberia, Romania and many more. His advice extended to producing and marketing higher quality products.

Nat Pollack is pre-deceased by his wife Lilly in 2008 and survived by three children: Elon A. Pollack of Manhattan Beach, Deborah Applebaum of La Quinta and Donna P. Johnson of Phoenix AZ, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Services were held on August 16 at Forest Lawn Mortuary in Cathedral City, CA.

Memorial gifts in Nat's name may be made to Birthright Israel Foundation.