Ory Giberstein

Ory Giberstein, 84, passed away peacefully at his home in Searingtown on November 11, surrounded by loved ones. Ory was a true character and long-time fabric cutting room owner whose openness to technological advances helped his businesses survive the decline of the Garment District. He loved his family, cars, investing in the stock market, and taking care of everyone in his orbit.

Ory was officially born on August 1, 1940 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, to Chanino and Chana. He is survived by Mirella (nee Santacoloma), his wife of more than 60 years; children Raquel, Debora (T), and Jeffrey; grandchildren Jason and Sabrina Harris and Rayna and Luci Giberstein; and sisters Shula Wittels of Caracas and Yaffa Goldschmidt of Sydney.

In 1962, Ory spotted Mirella at a masquerade party in Maracaibo and was immediately fascinated by her. Because his father was a respected rabbi and Mirella was Catholic, the two dated and, after Mirella converted to Judaism, were married secretly until a confidant inadvertently revealed the truth. At the time, Ory and a friend ran a questionably sound used car business, for which they eventually ran afoul of Venezuelan law enforcement. In definitive Ory fashion, he was able to charm his way out of trouble and make his way to New York with Mirella and a mere $75 — or $2800, depending on when he told the story — in his pocket.

He set up a mail order business after sweeping floors in the Garment District, then moved on to fabric cutting. He owned a number of successful companies in Manhattan and then Bloomfield, NJ, including Mr. Ory, Chop Chop, Cut Cut, and Exacta, all cutting rooms; Gibertex, which sold textiles; and Manolo Couture, which sold dresses for brides and their mothers. His clients included Theory, Calvin Klein, and the United States Army. Ory was an early adopter of technology, embracing robotic garment cutting that allowed him to continue thriving long after many of his competitors had left the business.

Ory was a born storyteller who would answer even the simplest of questions from his doctor with an autobiographical saga that took listeners as far back as the turn of the century. Through his work in the garment industry, he had dealt with characters from all walks of life and could spot a hustle a mile away. No one pulled the wool over his eyes; he would diffuse and redirect anyone who tried to do so.

Outside of the cutting rooms, Ory enjoyed bowling, dancing, and boating with Mirella and his family. He could often be found with a different phone on each ear, one connected to his stockbroker and one to a customer. His passion for cars — primarily Mercedes but with a brief Maserati phase — was evident to all who saw his driveway. When Ory owned a parking garage, he let everyone he knew park and fill up their tanks with gas for free.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to the ELIJA Foundation, a not-for-profit organization serving those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) on Long Island. ELIJA was very dear to Ory’s heart.

-Written by Traci Kampel

A temple service for Ory will be held Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at The Community Synagogue, 160 Middle Neck Rd, Sands Point, NY 11050. Following the temple service will be a committal service from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Locust Valley Cemetery, 117 Ryefield Rd, Locust Valley, NY 11560.