Family Biographies

Late Nick Benatar Family  

(click on photos to enlarge)

Nick Benatar was born to Joseph and Victoria Benatar in Beira Portuguese East Africa on September. 8^th 1924.  He was one of four children: an older sister Becky Berro and two younger sisters, Fourtunee Menashe and Rita Brooks. The family moved to the Belgian Congo for a few years then to Que Que in Rhodesia. Nick did his schooling at Chaplin School in Gwelo. He excelled in sports, especially cricket. When he left school Nick went to live in Salisbury where he worked for Radio Limited until he opened his own business Radio City in 1957.

Nicks older sister, Becky, died in 1997 in Phoenix, Arizona.  His other sisters, Fortunee Menashe and Rita Brooks, now live in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Nick met Pat Gillis while on holiday in Europe in 1955. Pat, born on November 27^th 1932, was the only child of Philip and Sadie Gillis of London England. The Sephardic Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth, Rabbi Dr Solomon Goan, married them the following year on August.26th.1956 in London at the Spanish and Portugese Synagogue. They had two children: Joel Gregory, born June.25^th 1957, and Victoria Rachelle, born April 28^th 1960.

 Nick and Pat where divorced in June 1967. Pat moved to Johannesburg, South Africa at the end of 1968 with their children where they lived until they all immigrated to America in the 1980s.In the 1970’s Nick became an entrepreneur owning a French Restaurant in Salisbury, Hotel in Inyanga and in Kariba, Disco and cinema in Salisbury and an interest in the casino at Victoria Falls.    In 1974 Nick married Yvonne Foster, born September 27^th 1949. Yvonne came from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. They had a daughter, Tanya Louise, born October 1976.

Nick left Salisbury in 1980 to live in Phoenix, Arizona. He opened electronic stores and a fan and lighting store. His son Joel moved to Phoenix in 1982. Joel moved to California in 1986 where he opened a leather furniture store in Irvine. In March 1991 he married Michelle Rosenblatt, daughter of Harry and Zandra Rosenblatt who were originally from Johannesburg. They moved to San Diego.California where Joel went into the automotive spare parts business. They have two children: a son Sean Nissim, born May9^th 1993 and a daughter Nicole Shira, born May.18^th.1995.

Nicks daughter Vicky lived in Phoenix until she moved to San Diego in 2000. His daughter Tanya lives in Phoenix and was married in March 2004 to Aaron Gagnon. Nick’s second wife Yvonne lives in Phoenix and as does his first wife Pat.

Nick died on September.22^nd.1991 at the age of 67 with all his family around him. He did live to see his son get married.

For information about a wonderful book written by Isaac Benatar called Song of Africa go to http://hometown.aol.com/authorbks3/

To contact e-mail pbenatar@msn.com Attached photos of Nick’s family. Pat Benatar compiled this short biography.

(click on photos to enlarge)  

At his son Joel's wedding March 10th 1991 with his 1st wife Pat.	With his eldest daughter Vicky in June 1978.
Nick with his 2nd wife Yvonne and their daughter Tanya taken September 1991 a few weeks before he died.	Pat Benatar with son Joel[47] my daughter Victoria [44]
Grandson Sean[11] ,Grandaughter Nikki[9] my daughter-in-law Michelle[41] and me Pat[71]	June 2004  in San Diego with cousins Herbie and Lydia Benatar [Charhon] and Ray Hertz[Almeleh] and her daughter Ilana Shupper and Troy Charhon
Photo taken August 26th 1956 in London - they all came from Salisbury for wedding of Nick to Pat. Picture shows L-R Bobby Benatar, Issy Kaplan, Raffie Schwartz, Victor Sanua, Pat and Nick and in the background are Esther and Mateo Charhon    click on photo to enlarge
Nick and Pat when they met in Cannes, South France August 1955.	Scottsdale, Arizona April 1985 from left to right, Jerry Kander [Pat's companion of many years he died in 1997 and is the late Father of Joan Struck who lives in Israel, then Vicky, Pat and NIcks daughter, Sandra Gordon [Pats life long friend], then Pat then Nick and Yvonne and in front Tanya [Nick and Yvonnes daughter] and kneeling Joel, [Pat and Nicks son.]

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