Benjamin Zatz was born on June 27th, 1902 to Henry and Annie Zatz (née Fried). Benjamin's parents were natives of Russia and immigrated to New York in 1891 during the height of Russian Jewish immigration to the United States. Henry and Annie were native Yiddish speakers and the family resided in the Lower East Side on Eldridge Street. Henry Zatz worked as a shirtmaker in the garment trade. Benjamin had four siblings: Pauline, Lillie, Nathan and Rebecca. The family later moved to East 53rd Street in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Benjamin worked as a stenographer throughout his 20s and 30s.
Benjamin married Malvina Isaacs, and the family resided on Monroe Street in the Lower East Side with their son Donald, who was born in 1937. The family later moved to Forest Hills, Queens, where Donald attended Forest Hills High School.
Malvina passed away at age 80 in 1976 and was buried at Beth El Cemetery in Ridgewood, Queens. Donald Zatz passed away in 2006.
Benjamin Zatz passed away at age 99 in on March 7, 2002.