ROSLYN, N.Y.–Shay Auerbach, founder and chairman of The Northwest Co., died on Nov. 10 after a long bout with cancer. He was 82.
Auerbach founded Northwest in 1985 after a career as an executive in the apparel industry, and served as chairman until his death. According to Stan Mieskowski, Northwest’s vice president of sales and marketing, Northwest’s current annual sales are close to $100 million.
“He never lost his enthusiasm and passion for the business,” Mieskowski said of Auerbach. “Whenever we got a sale, he reacted like a junior salesperson. His enthusiasm inspired everybody who worked for him.”
Auerbach is survived by his wife, Fran; his sons, Ross, president of Northwest, and Glenn, Northwest’s executive vice president; and three grandchildren.
Services for Auerbach will be held tomorrow at Temple Beth Shalom here.