Moscovitz remembered for personal service
BROWNSVILLE – Nervin Moscovitz not only remembered the old days of personal service businesses in Brownsville, for 40 years he provided that service himself with his sewing machine and sweeper repair business. His death Friday leaves a void in the community, not only in terms of customer service, but for community service as well.
Chamber member Marie Lunden said she couldn’t think of a single time Moscovitz was asked to participate in a chamber function that he said no.
Chamber President Frank Ricco said he was the one who recruited Moscovitz for the chamber.
“He’s been a chamber member at least 30 years. I got involved in the chamber in the late ’60s and Nervin came in right after me,” Ricco said. “He’s been an active member of the chamber for many, many years. He been an active member of the community and we’ll miss his contributions to the community.”
Lunden, who is an avid quilter, said Moscovitz had serviced her sewing machines for more than 30 years, exhibiting the type of service not usually seen these days.
“When I wasn’t able to get out, he would come and pick up my machine and work on it. I still have an old machine I would have loved to have had him work on. I bought this Universal from him better than 30 years ago,” Lunden said. “Once I needed some bobbins for my machine and he gave me six of them and didn’t charge me for them.”
Moscovitz was known for his inexpensive repairs or even talking customers through making their own repairs instead of bringing heavy sewing machines into his shop. He was also known for holding lengthy conversations with his customers.
“We had a couple of nice discussions on the Bible. He knew his Old and New Testaments,” Lunden said.
Moscovitz had on several occasions donated items from the former O’Have Israel Temple for displays on Brownsville’s Jewish heritage at the Flatiron Building Heritage Center. The old synagogue is now home to Elmo’s cyber caf? and computer store. The synagogue disbanded in 1969. Moscovitz was one of the eight remaining members at that time.
Friends will be received at the Skirpan Funeral Home Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.