Beloved Third-Generation Jeweler Herb Mazer Dies

Third-generation jeweler Herb Mazer died in his home Aug. 24 at the age of 90, according to his son David Mazer.

The son of a diamond and jewelry merchant and grandson of a silversmith, Herb was a watchmaker by trade. In 1949, the year he married his wife, Doris, he answered an ad for a position at Foley Brofsky Jewelers in Delaware—and years later would take over “Foley’s,” as it came to be known. Herb worked well into the 1990s before retiring.

David, a graduate gemologist at Marks Jewelers in Montgomeryville, Pa., says his father was a proud member of a Scull group that eventually conceptualized and formed the Continental Buying Group. He was also, at one point, a member—and then president—of the Tri-State Jewelers group.

He’s remembered by his son “as an extraordinary teacher” who was “always a proponent of being expert in one thing, jewelry, as opposed to mediocrity in many things.”

David adds that personally, Herb was “a very personable man—everyone liked him. Growing up in our family’s store, myriad families would come in each and every weekend just to see Herb, have their jewelry checked and cleaned, and see what was new. He was very patient and kind, and very focused on doing a job correctly, not just doing the job. It is my opinion that my father will be remembered as a gentleman—a fair and honest man.”
The jeweler is survived by his wife, Doris Mazer, two children, and two grandchildren. 

(Photo: Herb Mazer, courtesy of David Mazer)

JCK Senior Editor

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