Contributed Photo Businessman Nat Kagan was a fixture in Woodrige and county politics for decades.

Nat Kagan dead at 77

By Fred Stabbert III
WOODRIDGE – One of the Town of Fallsburg’s most prominent citizens, Nat Kagan, died Sunday, September 13 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 77 years of age.
Kagan was a no nonsense, straightforward man who followed in his father’s footsteps as a butcher on Main St., Woodridge. Nat worked alongside his mom and dad, Birdie and Sam, delivering kosher meat and provisions to hundreds of summer camps, hotels and restaurants throughout Sullivan County and beyond.
The company, Nat Kagan’s Meat and Poultry, was also renowned for its generosity, handing out more than 20,000 free turkeys to needy families throughout the years.
“Nat was a great person for Sullivan County and the Town of Fallsburg,” Greg Goldstein, former Sullivan County Republican Party Chair, said. “He was a little guy with a big heart who was a great businessman as well as a loyal friend.”
Goldstein remembered how hard the Kagan family worked at the business and also how well Kagan served his county as Supervisor of the Town of Fallsburg and a Republican committeeman.
Kagan served his town during the Board of Supervisors era and served as Deputy Chair under Fremont Supervisor Walter Sipple.
“He was my strongest ally on the board,” Sipple said. “He was a common sense guy – what was right, was right and what was wrong, was wrong. He was a good man, I can tell you that. A real sweetheart.”
Nat was born in Monticello, the son of the late Samuel and Birdie Benson Kagan.
He was a member and past Director of the Woodridge Kiwanis, member of Congregation Ohave Sholom, Sullivan County Republican Party, Butcher’s Union, Jewish War Veterans and a past member of the Lions Club and the Woodridge Fire Department.
His distinguished public service included a 50-year run as a Town of Fallsburg Republican Committeeman, Mayor of the Village of Woodridge, trustee of the Village of Woodridge, Supervisor of the Town of Fallsburg and a founding member of the Woodridge Youth Commission.
Survivors include his daughter Lisa and her husband, Shawn Wiles; his son, Joseph Porcellini and his wife, Nancy; his sister Pookie Novogrodsky and nieces, Jodi (Alan) Goodman and Lauree Novogrodsky; his former wife, Rosalie Kagan; his grandchildren, Brody and Samantha Wiles and Sara and Louis Porcellini; several nieces and nephews, among them, Julie and Jonathan Goodman.
He was predeceased by his brother, Harold Kagan.
A family statement read, “Nat will always be remembered for his loyalty and dedication to his family. His children and grandchildren brought him immense happiness. Nat loved the Village of Woodridge to which he proudly devoted his time and service.”
Funeral services were held yesterday at Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, Monticello, with the Rabbi Marvin Goodman officiating. Burial was in Workman’s Circle, Glen Wild.
The family will be sitting Shiva at the home of Lisa and Shawn Wiles, 17 Cantor Ave., Woodridge.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Skilled Nursing Unit at Catskill Regional Medical Center.