He was born in London; his father was a furniture manufacturer of Polish-Jewish ancestry.
He was known to give shoes to those in need, and to fire them down stairs to those he did not like; he had fits of temper partly attributable to his war injury.
He served in the Military Reserve and Home Guard in World War II.
He was a colourful and enthusiastic mayor, promoting Invercargill as the Auckland of the South, developing Oreti for recreation and securing the first air service to the city.
He died in Dunedin aged 58 after a short illness while waiting for an operation.