Nathan Swartz
Nathan Swartz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Odessa, Kherson Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | August 1, 1984 (aged 82) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, shoemaker |
| Known for | Founder of the Timberland Company |
Nathan Swartz (July 1902 – August 1984) was an American entrepreneur and shoemaker originally from Ukraine, recognized as the founder of the Timberland Company.
Early life
Swartz was born in July 1902 in Odessa, Kherson Governorate, into a modest Jewish family with a shoemaking heritage spanning four generations. His family relocated to the United States shortly before the outbreak of World War I.
Career
Starting his profession as an apprentice at a shoe repair shop in New York, Swartz later purchased a 50% share of the Abington Shoe Company in Massachusetts in 1952. This business eventually transformed into what became known as Timberland. He stepped down from his role in 1968.
Family
Swartz was the father of two sons, Herman and Sidney. Herman managed Timberland between 1968 and 1986, succeeded by Sidney who led until 1998. Sidney’s son, Jeffrey Swartz, assumed leadership in 1998 and ultimately sold the company to VF for $2 billion in 2011.
Trivia
An industrial mishap resulted in Swartz losing several fingers.