Who He Was

Who He Was

• David Schaecter was a Holocaust survivor, born in what was then Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia), in 1929. The Times of Israel+2VINnews+2

• He was sent with his family to Auschwitz when he was around 11 years old; his father was taken earlier and never returned, his mother and two sisters were killed, and his brother later died in the camps. Schaecter himself was transferred to Buchenwald, and survived among the few of his immediate family. VINnews+3The Times of Israel+3CBS News+3

What He Did

• After the war, he emigrated to the United States (settling in Florida), where he engaged in business (manufacturing & real estate) before increasingly devoting himself to remembrance, education, and advocacy for Holocaust survivors. The Times of Israel+2The Forward+2

• He founded the Holocaust Survivors Foundation USA (HSF) in 2000. This organization focused on helping survivors—including pushing for restitution of Nazi‑loot, seeking justice over issues like unpaid insurance, and improving conditions and support for aging survivors. The Times of Israel+2JNS.org+2

• He also co‑founded the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach in 1989, which became a major center for Holocaust education. The Times of Israel+2VINnews+2

• Throughout his later years, he spoke widely (including before the U.S. Senate’s Special Committee on Aging) about antisemitism, and about the needs of survivors, especially as they age and face hardship. The Times of Israel+2JNS.org+2

Legacy & Passing

• Schaecter died on September 4, 2025, at age 96. The Jewish Chronicle+2The Times of Israel+2

• In his final hours, several rabbis and a cantor came to his bedside. His widow, Sydney Carpel, described him as “exceptional … a tzadik, an angel.” The Jewish Chronicle+1

• He is survived by his second wife Sydney, his children Lisa and Neal (and family), grandchildren & great‑grandchildren. The Times of Israel+1

Why His Story Matters

• Schaecter was notable not just for surviving the Holocaust but for refusing to let silence or forgetting dominate: he dedicated much of his life to ensuring the stories of survivors weren’t lost, calling attention to ongoing injustice (insurance claims, restitution, proper care). The Times of Israel+2JNS.org+2

• He was also deeply invested in educating younger generations—speaking in schools, participating in trips like March of the Living, and supporting memorials & museums. The Times of Israel+1