Joseph Khezire, the founder of Jimmy Jazz, passed away on Sunday at the age of 90. In its early days, the retailer was a staple in New York City’s Lower Eastside and then became the giant we know it as today.
On June 20, Jimmy Jazz’s Instagram announced the news that Khezrie passed away and stated the following in its tribute post:
“Our founder, Joseph Khezrie, was a deeply loyal, respectful and hard-working man. We aspire to continue his legacy and make Jimmy Jazz the best it can be. Rest in peace.”
The retailer confirmed in an email to Footwear News that Khezrie passed away on the morning of June 4, and offered a statement from his son, James Khezrie, the CEO of Jimmy Jazz:
“We regret to inform you of the passing of our founder and pillar, Joseph Khezrie. My father Joseph came to America in 1960 because of the freedom and opportunities afforded by the United States. His love for this country knew no bounds. In his early years, he saw an advertisement while commuting that stuck with him for life: ‘It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.’ Through hard work and perseverance, he managed to start E and J Lawrence, the parent company of Jimmy Jazz. He was deeply loyal and viewed every person as part of his family. He instilled in us the core values of loyalty, hard work, perseverance, integrity, and respect, to make this company a success. We aspire to continue his legacy and make Jimmy Jazz both the best it can be and propel it to greater success in the future,” the statement read.
Our condolences go out to the Khezrie and Jimmy Jazz family.
