Sy Syms, founder, chairman of clothing chain
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May 12, 1926—Nov. 17, 2009
Sy Syms, founder and chairman of the apparel chain SYMS Corp., the first retailer to sell off-price men’s clothing, died Tuesday in New York City of heart failure. He was 83.
Mr. Syms founded his business in New York’s financial district in 1959 and created the famous slogan, “An educated consumer is our best customer,” which is used to this day.
He remained CEO of SYMS Corp. until 1998, when he was succeeded by his daughter, Marcy, and continued as the company’s chairman until his death.
Today, SYMS Clothing has 30 stores, including one in Clarence, in 13 states. In June, the company acquired Filene’s Basement.
Born Seymour Merinsky in Brooklyn, he attended Brooklyn’s Midwood High School, served in the Army and attended New York University under the GI Bill. He was a sportscaster in Maryland and West Virginia before returning to New York in 1950 to join the family retail business.
The family had changed its surname to Merns when Mr. Syms’ father and older brother opened a store in lower Manhattan called Merns.
In 1959, he opened a rival store around the corner, which he named for himself: “Sy Merns.” After losing a court battle, he was forced to rename the new store and decided on “SYMS,“ which later also became his legal surname.
The Sy Syms Foundation, which Mr. Syms established, has endowed many philanthropic institutions, including the American Heart Association, which honored him in 2002 with a Heart of New York Award.
SYMS was the first retailer to underwrite Public Broadcasting, beginning with “Frontline.” Through the foundation, Mr. Syms also supported many schools and universities.
He also backed new ventures and charities around the world, from a home for Hispanic immigrants in the Bronx to tennis centers for orphans in Israel, from biotechnology companies to the first company to create a digitized history of the film industry.
His first marriage, to Ruth Glickman Merns, ended in divorce.
Surviving are his wife, Lynn Tamarkin Syms; two daughters, Marcy and Laura; two sons, Robert and Richard; two stepchildren; and three sisters.
Services will be in Temple Emanu-El, New York City.
Published: November 18, 2009, 12:30 am