General Information

Full Name: Sidney Schuster
Date of Death: Sunday, January 5, 2025

Sidney Schuster has died at the age of 103.  He was a remarkable, vibrant man who touched everyone he met with his outgoing personality and deep love and interest in virtually everyone he met.  He died where he wanted to be, the home in Glen Rock where he lived for over 73 years, most of the time with his dear spouse, Sylvia, who died in 2016.

They met at a Rudy Valley Radio show in 1940, quickly fell in love, and were married in November, 1941.  Shortly after, Sidney entered the army and was stationed in Ft. Riley in Manhattan, Kansas.  Luckily Sylvia was able to join him and they spent three years there until Sidney was sent to Korea and the Philippines after the war ended.  He often talked about the trip over where he was not seasick, played craps, and sent his winnings home to his dear wife (who bought a raccoon coat with the winnings).

Sidney was born and raised in Coney Island and often regaled us with stories about selling ice cream on the beach and running away from the police as he did not have a license.  He would hand over his box of ice cream to some person, while he ran into the water to elude the police.  He loved those stories!

When the war ended, Sidney and Sylvia got an apartment on Stillwell Avenue in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, where Dan was born.  It was there that they met their lifelong friends, Hilda and Marty Zeiler.  In 1951, Shelly was born and the two couples found their way to Glen Rock, in the house where Sidney lived out his life.

Sidney worked as a raincoat maker and eventually trained to become a business agent and district manager for the ILGWU and retired from there in 1982. In their retirement, the couple enjoyed traveling a bit and became snowbirds for 20 years in Bon Adventure in Weston, Florida.  As well, Sidney and Sylvia joined the JCC’s Active Senior program and enjoyed that for over 35 years.  Sidney was there just a few weeks ago.

The family asks that donations in Sidney’s name be made to the Jewish War Veterans or the JCC of Northern New Jersey, 450 West Nyack Rd., West Nyack, NY 10994.  Please note that the donation is in memory of Sidney Schuster.

Sidney is survived by his daughter Shelly and her husband Steven Baltin, his son Dan and his wife Terry, and three great grandchildren.  He is predeceased by his wife Sylvia and his grandson Justin Baltin.