Selma Schachter

Selma Jeanette Schachter (nee Malakoff) of Boca Raton, Florida, passed away on Friday, August 7, 2020, at Trustbridge Hospice in Boca Raton, Florida.  She was 88 years old.  Mrs. Schachter was laid to rest at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, New Jersey, on Sunday, August 9.  

Born and raised in Union City, New Jersey, Mrs. Schachter graduated from Union Hill High School in 1950, and attended Parker Junior College in New York City.  While raising her children in River Edge, NJ, she engaged in various pastimes, collected antiques and fine china, and travelled extensively (visiting Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the Far East on numerous lengthy trips).  One highlight was attending her son's Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel in July 1973 months before the start of the Yom Kippur War.  Mrs. Schachter was an active volunteer in the Jewish community and served as President of the Temple Shalom Sisterhood from 1969 to 1971 in River Edge.

Once her children were teenagers, Mrs. Schachter, who was well-known for her impeccable fashion sense and stylish appearance, rejoined the workforce in 1975.  She continued the long family tradition of working in women’s apparel.  Over the years she worked at Dress Barn and Bernard Chaus, where she managed a top store.  She trained and developed future managers. Mrs. Schachter spearheaded the Chaus Corporation’s opening of "the outlets," performing site selection, and staffing and merchandising for the first four company stores outside of the New York headquarters.  She was loved by all in and out of the warehouse.

She moved to Florida in 1996, and entered the world of fine linens, working more than 17 years at Pioneer Linens, and Lori Jayne Monograming in West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach, respectively.  She loved her work and engaging with her customers, and reluctantly retired at the age of 81.

Mrs. Schachter is survived by her daughter Mindy Ann Harris (Robert) of Boca Raton, Florida, her grandson Noah, her son Scott Schachter (Sheila Berman) of Washington D.C., as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Harry and Fannie Malakoff, and her beloved brothers and sisters-in-law, Samuel and Molly; Irving and Sylvia; and Edward and Sheila Malakoff.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation online at www.parkinson.org/ways-to-give.