At SYMS we’re saddened to report the passing of our Founder and Chairman, Sy Syms.
Although Sy passed the reigns to his daughter Marcy many years ago, he remained an active steward of the SYMS’ brand right up to his passing. Perhaps Marcy summed it up best when she said “My father was a really passionate person, and someone who was a bit of a visionary. And he was above all tenacious. Once he believed something could happen, he pulled out all the stops to make it so.”
Our loyal customers have expressed their appreciation for Sy’s business ethics, their many years of enjoyable memories of him, and of their experiences in SYMS Clothing Stores.
We appreciate your kind words and messages, and we thank you for taking the time to share them with us.
Mr. Syms had a reputation as a real MENSCH! His business ethics set an example of how a Jewish business man should conduct himself. His demeanor was always pleasing and friendly. The entire feeling or *mood* of a Syms store always echos honesty, integrity and respect for their clientele!
Clearly his mark, carried forward by his daughter, reverberates in all the Syms stores!
He will be missed!
May the Omnipresent one comfort Sy Syms family amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and may they know of no further pain and anguish!
Avrohom M. Alter
773-338-6361
My family has been shopping at Syms for many decades. Our condolences to the entire Syms family on this very sad loss.
I was saddend to hear this news today. I worked for SYMs in Paramus in the early ’80s and have fond memories of my time there. My condolences to the entire SYMS family.
Salem, Oregon
My sincerest condolences on the passing of Sy. I was in your Park Place store over the weekend, and when I got home I googled the Syms company history and leaned about the history of Merns Mart and Syms and how Mr Syms built his business from the ground up. I was shocked to find he died shortly after I had read the company history. All my best to your families, and continued success to you- it has been quite a year for Syms!
Our heartfelt condolences to the family and to the employees of SYMS. As a frequent customer of SYMS I appreciate that such a successful business could not have flourished without the energy and vision of an extraordinary and dedicated person. Rest in peace.
I love Syms! Thanks Sy for bringing quality affordable clothing to regular folks!
Sorry for the loss of your dad, Marcy.
I am a loyal customer of SYMS.
My condolences to the Syms family on this very sad loss.
I am a long-time shopper at Syms and always found it a satisfying experience. It’s a tribute to Sy Syms that he
established an ethical store, devoted his resources to fine
philanthropic causes. His family can be proud of him. I hope Marcy continues in his ways.
I worked at Syms in Secaucus for 18 yrs. I just heard today Nov 19 that Mr. Syms has passed on.I truly liked him.He had a kind heart in many ways. May your rest in eternal peace. May the Almighty one send His comfort to his children and all of his family.
Dear Syms family,
My late father became a huge fan of Syms in the 1970s, and I would often accompany him on his shopping treks down to Buffalo from Toronto. I myself am now a longtime Syms fan, and actually am heading down to Buffalo this weekend, and am hoping a stop at Syms will be on the agenda. Your store was and is terrific — kudos to Mr. Syms for being so innovative and entrepreneurial.
Edana Brown
Toronto
Our heartfelt condolences to the family and to the employees of SYMS. Very sad loss to my old friend.
Sy Syms has been Special in my life and he will be missed by many. To Marcy, Robert, Richard and Laura plus Stephen’s Kids, my deepest and sincerest condolences. Memories of my childhood years in Bronxville, will always remain. I wish I could attend the Services, but I am in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Most affectionately, Bruce Gillespie, Cristina and Vanessa.
A man dedicated to fairness and right had only that dedication to pass on to his children and business. Sy Syms lived such a life and left such a legacy to us all. Shopping at Syms is always fruitful and always a pleasure. Thank you, Sy.
Marcy - although it has been so many years since we last saw each other in college, I have never forgotten you or your family - I was saddened to learn of your dad’s passing, but know that his legacy is great and that he will not be forgotten for his business sense, his humanitarianism and his wit. Fondly, Betsy
An educated consumer is our best customer….Mr. Syms was ahead of his time and did discounting right.
His legacy is providing value and honesty in retailing.
Dear Marcy, the Syms family and all at the company and the stores.
I grew up in New Jersey, lived in New York City half my life, and now live in northern Spain.
I was a loyal customer of Syms and even made a point of dropping by when visiting from Europe.
I remember once taking my son, 12 at the time, on a shopping spree to the store. He did not live with me; he lived in Alabama. I wanted to get him some proper New York clothes so we could galavant around like gentlemen. We rushed around the store, grabbing some good jeans and chinos, some pale blue buttondowns, a windbreaker, and denim jacket and some good, preppy penny loafers. It all took about 30 minutes (we must have broken some kind of record) and they would have let us into the Yale Club the way he looked.
I offer my sincere condolences for your loss, and may you continue doing business as Sy taught you.
God bless,
Mark
Condolences to the family. Loyal customer in Houston for many years.
I was deeply saddened to learn of Sy’s passing. I worked for
the company in the Elmsford store with Richie - at Park Pl.
and the then brand new “Distro” as Ira Weisers assistant, and at the Roslyn store. Sy treated me as one of his kids
when I was at the Distro. I look back on my years with Syms
warmly. My best wishes go out to Richie - Robert - Marcy and
Laura (who I unfortunately never met. May smiles return to
your faces and warm memories of your dad comfort you all
the days of your lives.
As a proud Syms shopper since before my Bar Mitzvah, I join many educated consumers in saying that we will miss you, Mr. Syms. My condolences to Marcy and the Syms family.
I am shocked and saddened of the passing of Mr. Syms
Aside from being a Syms customer, I worked at and with Syms Corp for the past 20 years.
Even beyond all the generous endeavors that Mr. Syms was known for during his lifetime, I recall him personally as being a good and decent man. Mr. Syms always comported himself as a truly gracious gentleman.
I’ll forever fondly remember our friendly interactions over the years. Mr. Syms always knew who I was, even when I first worked a night shift and was rarely seen by anyone.
I’m so sorry to hear this sad news.
With my deepest condolences,
Ray Kelly
My condolences goes out to the Syms family. I really just started shopping at Syms about a year ago. As a young teenager I remember my aunt and my mother taking me there a couple times to get clothes, & as an adult I would always drive by there but never stop in. But one day last year I was looking for a sports jacket & something told me to stop in and ever since then Syms has been my goto store for my Ascots, Suites, Sports jackets etc. Mr Syms I would like to thank you sir for giving us this great store & my you rest in peace.
Like Edana, I too used to shuffle down to Buffalo from Toronto to shop at Syms. One reason: Sy Syms. I felt like I knew him. I used to repeat with him, “an educated consumer is our best customer” during his commercials. Now I live in Fort Lauderdale but I still walk into the store and ask how is Sy is doing. It saddens me to hear of his passing. Marcy, my prayers are with you and all those around you. Realize that you are not alone. You are special, the same way Sy made me feel special. Because of Sy I am able to dress like I paid a lot. Thanks for sharing him with us!!!
Marcy, please accept my sincere condolences. My thoughts and prayers are with you during these sad days.
Sincerely,
Ruth Ayres
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Sy Syms and I hope that he rests in peace and I offer my sincerest sympathies to the Syms family.
I am originally from NJ and now reside in the Washington, DC area and also shop frequently in the South Florida area. I have been a SYMS customer almost from the very beginning of the journey starting with the Woodbridge NJ location. I have shopped in your stores all that time, and relatively frequently (was just in the Falls Church VA store yesterday!). I have always been able to wear quality clothing that I could fit into my modest income budget, which I am forever grateful to the wonderful company Mr. Syms started and its business model. What a nice thing that a retailer still understands the cherished business model of trying to offer their customers, value for their money!
Again, I appreciate what Mr. Syms offered the customer and I wish for the best for the entire Syms family.
My best wishes, JK Schwarz
Dear Marcy and Robert,
We send you our deepest sympathy on the loss of your father.
Sy was a remarkable man in all aspects of his life. He was
highly intelligent, sensitive and compassionate. Though we haven’t been as close as we once were, we will always remember him with great fondess and respect!
Sue and Irwin
Syms always offered a good deal. The store helped me out many times. I’ll never forget it.
I’m sorry.
I recently heard of Sy’s passing and was deeply saddened by it. I worked for Syms a number of years ago and fondly look back on those memories. I remember meeting Sy in Paramus and from that day on he never forgot my name. He was a gentleman and a good and decent man. I do remember a year after leaving Syms I was on Rte.3 and Sy was beside me in his limo..he saw me and powered his window down and we carried on a conversation for 2 miles..lol…I for one will miss him…I now live in Las Vegas and truly wish Syms would open here….God bless
Marcy,
A long time ago when we were all active in Westpride, we had the privilege of meeting you and at just about the same time, we met your Dad at a wedding in Great Neck. Like us, he was a guest and he was a friend of one of our friends.He was such a nice guy. I’m sure that you miss him greatly and our hearts go out to you and all of your family.
Gerrie & Herb Rude
I want to give my condolescence to the Syms family. . .although I no longer live in NYC, in the earlier 1970’s, I use to go to SYMS quite regulary, in lower Manhattan.The store had a fine selections of ( what we use to call ‘em ) cashmire coutifields ( bad spelling ), along w/ the many styles of raincoats ( 1/2 to 3/4 lengths ), colors that ranged from vanilla, to burgundy. As quiet as kept, I still look for those 3/4 raincoats…!
My sincerest condolences hearing of Founder, Sy Sims, passing.
My cousin in Dallas introduced me to the Syms Store in Plano, TX, and I was most disappointed when it closed this year. Each visit I made to Dallas from East Texas, I would visit Syms with enthusiasm.
My heartfelt thoughts are with the entire Syms family at this sad time.
Paul Davis
Dear Syms family,
Am deeply saddened to hear that Sy passed away. I have shopped at Syms for nearly three decades. Your father built an innovative business and gave back to the community. You are all in my thoughts.
Deepest condolences,
Amy
So very sorry to learn of Sy’s passing. I have been a customer for many, many years. First in Falls Church, Va than in Rockville,Md and I even shopped at your store in Glen Burnie, Md(was so very sorry when that store closed). Just wanted to send my condolescence to the Syms family.
Dear Syms Family, I have been a shopper at Syms for a long time.The Valley Forge store is closest to me. I never left your store without a smile. Although, I did not know Sy personally, I share in your distress.As a businessman myself, I can really respect the depth and breath of his achievement.
G-d Bless your family and may he give you the strength to go
forward.
I what to send my condolescence to your family… Just was in the Trinity place store, and i know that you will not miss a beat… When it comes to hard work. Syms that my store.
Greetings from Chicago.
Sy Syms founded a great store of discounted clothing for the businessman and woman in mind. I’m glad to see the store expand to have something for the entire family. The prices are great.
Thanks!!!
I bought my first suit from Mr. Syms and he gave me a coupon for a pair of shoes. Such a gentleman and friendly man. I know his family will miss him. I sorely miss the store in Baltimore. May God continue to bless the family and the legacy Mr. Syms left.
My family and I wish to express our sincere condolences to you and the Syms family. We were saddened to hear of the loss of this retail giant - we’ve shopped at Syms for decades and nearly can’t shop anywhere else. May you all be comforted with the knowledge that he’s done such great good for so many people…may his legacy be a blessing going forward.
Dear Marcy and the SYMS family and staff,
My deepest and sincerest sympathies for your lose. I am a former SYMS educator from the (unfortunately now closed) Monroeville (Pittsburgh) store. I only just found out today about this and I am saddened. Sy was a very personable man and I held him in high regard and look at him with great respect. I had the pleasure of meeting him on numerous occasions, when he came to the Monroeville store but also during several store setups that I had the pleasure of being involved with. I really enjoyed when he walked around the stores smoking his pipe and leaving the fragrance of good pipe tobacco in his wake. Even though I have not worked for SYMS since May of 1999, I still think about many of the people I met through my working there and Sy was always one of them (wondering how he was doing and such). He will certainly be missed. May you all find comfort in the love of your family and friends and in knowing that Sy touched many peoples lives in positive ways.
Sincerely.
Kim Castle
I Worked For Syms in the Trinity Store, I put myself through college working at Syms Clothing Inc. I am very saddened by the event and I believe that the company is in good hands with Marcy, I send my condolences to the family and I wish the company well.
Steven M. Stein
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