Gustav Schachter

Professor Gustav Schachter of Brookline, MA passed away on May 14 after 97 (just a week shy of 98) years of a life well-lived. He was born the 3rd of 5 children in Botosani, Romania in 1926. His older sister passed at 12 years old, and from there the remaining 4 brothers bonded tightly. When Hitler came to power they were kicked out of school and his father could no longer work. However, they avoided the fate of many European Jews during World War II when the Soviet Army prevented the Nazis from reaching their town. After the war, Gustav initially settled in Italy for several years before being allowed to immigrate to the U.S.

Arriving in New York City, Gustav found work at the B&G pickle factory in Long Island City where he rose to the position of plant manager. During this time, he also attended night school at City College earning a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, an MBA and eventually a PhD in Economics from NYU. After graduate school, Gustav became a Professor of Economics at Northeastern University in Boston where he published many books and articles. He was also a polyglot who consulted with the European governments as an expert on input-output analysis and regional economic planning.

Gustav was a loyal friend, husband, father, son, brother and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife of almost sixty years, Francine, and brother, Harry. He and his brother, Marcel, passed away on the same day. Gustav is survived by his brother, Mirel, his daughter Livia and her husband Christopher, his son Levanto and his wife Shelley, and his grandchildren Sarah, Madeline, Connor and Dylan.

Gustav was a larger than life figure in the Brookline community, often seen walking in the park with his cane, talking to everyone he crossed paths with. Over the years, his walk slowed but his mind never did as he wrote some 15 publications post-retirement. He had a true zeal for life, and his home was filled with art and music, laughter and connection, with everyone welcome at the table. He and his brothers were extremely close, speaking almost every day. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, care, and joy, believing life was a gift not to squander, not even for a minute.

The family would like to thank his caregivers Sarah, Doreen and Kanifa for the compassion they showed him in his final years. The family would also like to acknowledge the care and attention provided by Sabina Miller, a close friend and confidant from California.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to https://hias.org/who/ , an organization which offered him welcome, safety, and opportunity when he was a refugee. Gustav spoke out against injustice and warned against becoming apathetic or ignorant of the lessons of the past, quoting the poem “First They Came”, which argues that everyone is deserving of empathy and protection.