Maurice Halfon Behar

In 1938, Maurice “Maury” Halfon Behar was born in Biarritz, France and spent his early childhood in Bayonne, France.  On January 12, 1944, the Nazis took his parents from their home, but Behar was left behind due to a bout with measles.  He was then cared for by his neighbor, Marie Cazous, passing as her son, until he was adopted by relatives from the United States and moved to New York City in 1947.    

Behar spent the next decade in New York City, spending his adolescent years in the South Bronx, and then studying business and prelaw at New York University.  After graduation, Behar served in the United States Army, and soon after, took his first job as a welfare investigator for the City of New York.  Ten months later, he started his sales career entering a trainee program at Playtex, and continued with various sales positions, eventually ending up in Los Angeles.  Behar later received his real estate broker’s license and started his own company, Northridge Equity, with a partner.  

After closing a large real estate sale in Las Vegas, Behar moved with his son, Brett, to the city in 1990, as did his business partner.  After struggling with ventures alongside his partner, Behar finally started a new career in hotel security, first with a position at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino.  He later moved to a position at the New York New York Hotel and Casino soon after it opened in 1997. 

 

Sources:

 

Behar, Maruice Halfon. Interview, 2016 March 14. OH-02633. Transcript. Oral History Research Center. Special Collections, University LIbraries, University of Las Vegas Nevada. Las Vegas, Nevada.