My uncle,the war hero Lou Berzon – nicknamed Golders Green’s Zorba for his love of impromptu dancing to the tune from Zorba The Greek – has died aged 94.
Like the character played by Anthony Quinn in the 1964 film, Lou believed that whatever life threw at him he could transcend by dance and a little home-made wine.
He was the son of Abraham and Rosie, who had emigrated to Britain from Russia and ran a grocers shop off the East End’s Brick Lane. At just 17 Lou was called up to fight in Burma during the Second World War.
It was a ghastly experience although he managed to survive the fetid jungle in the battle against the Japanese, when thousands didn’t, despite becoming ill after drinking unclean water.
Many refused to talk about their time in Burma. Not Lou. “I will say one thing,” he said. “The army chiefs did try and look after the Jewish lot. Would you believe it, they even airlifted Matza in one day.” Like many who served in Burma Lou was decorated for courageous action against the Japanese.
With his distinctive moustache and dashing good looks as a young man, he was Clark Gable to wife Margy’s Barbara Windsor, and exuded a cheeky charm that endeared him to many.
Lou met Margy in a bomb shelter during a wartime blackout. They fell in love and married first in a registry office in 1942. Then they married again, after moving to Golders Green in NW London at Dunstan Road Synagogue in 1954, where they were even given a discount, thanks to Pearl, Margy’s sister-in-law, who worked in the office.
Having experienced wartime food rationing, Lou, who became a Hoffman presser in a tailoring business, loved his food but could not bear chicken soup. Unsurprisingly he was put off fowl for life when, as a young boy, his parents once served up his pet chicken on a plate.
After retirement Lou worked as a night security officer at Kenwood House in the 1980s.One night he declared he’d seen the ghost of a woman.
At first people suggested he was suffering from lack of sleep. Later it was pointed out that others had also seen the ghost, thought to have been Dido Elizabeth Belle, daughter of a slave brought up in the house.
When their younger son Anthony died a few years ago Lou and Margy’s love helped them through the tragedy.
Lou is survived by their son Steve, two daughters-in-law, Terry and Sarah, three grandchildren, Max, Carla and Carmen, three great grandchildren, Maya, Lennon and Jasmine and extended family. Margy died aged 97 on November 7, 2018, less than a month after her husband’s death.
Peter Gruner
Lou Berzon: born December 2, 1923. Died October 15 2018
