He initially began a career as a sportscaster and reporter in Maryland and West Virginia. However, in 1950 Syms returned to New York City in order to work at the family's store.[1] In 1959, Syms opened a men's clothing store on nearby Cortlandt Street in New York City's Financial District. The store, which was initially named Sy Merns, competed directly with his family's original store on Vesey Street.[1] However, he was forced to change the store's name to simply SYMS, after legal action was taken against him.[1] He later had his name legally changed to Sy Syms to match the store.[1]
The company slowly expanded during the 1960s and 1970s. By 1983, Syms had taken the company public with an initial public offering and expanded the chain to include eleven retail locations.[1] At its height, the chain had 48 locations in thirteen states.[1] On November 2, 2011, Syms Corp. and its subsidiary Filene's Basement, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after more than a half a century in the clothing business.
Sy Syms remained the company's CEO until his retirement in 1998, when he was succeeded by his daughter, Marcy Syms.[1] He remained the company's chairman until he died of heart failure at his home in Manhattan, New York City, on November 17, 2009.[2]
Personal lifeedit
His first marriage, to Ruth Glickman Merns, ended in divorce. They had six children: Marcy, Robert, Richard, Laura, Stephen (died in 1998),[3] and Adrienne (died in 1999).[1][4] His second wife was Lynn Tamarkin, by whom he had two step-children,[1] Cary Tamarkin and Leslie Tamarkin.[5] Funeral services were held at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan.[5][non sequitur]
Sy Syms Foundationedit
The non-profit Sy Syms Foundation was founded by Syms in 1985 with his personal funds, to support education. It has given away over $30,000,000 and has contributed toward the continued growth of many institutions of higher learning including the Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University, and many organizations which provide funding for education.[6]
The foundation has been a major supporter Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio (NPR) through the underwriting of various programming.
Marcy Syms was instrumental in developing many of the grant-relationships made possible by her late father's generosity, and is a founding trustee of the foundation, elected to the role of president in 1997. The foundation has its offices in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
syms, this, article, about, person, business, school, school, business, 1926, november, 2009, american, businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, founded, syms, price, clothing, chain, york, city, 1959, bornseymour, merinsky, 1926, 1926brooklyn, york, usdiedn. This article is about the person For the business school see Sy Syms School of Business Sy Syms May 12 1926 November 17 2009 was an American businessman entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the SYMS off price clothing chain in New York City in 1959 1 Sy SymsBornSeymour Merinsky 1926 05 12 May 12 1926Brooklyn New York USDiedNovember 17 2009 2009 11 17 aged 83 Manhattan New York USAlma materNew York UniversitySpouseRuth Glickman Merns divorced Lynn TamarkinChildren6 and 2 stepchildren Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Sy Syms Foundation 4 References 5 External linksBiography editSyms was born Seymour Merinsky on May 12 1926 in Brooklyn New York 1 He was the youngest of eight children of Jewish parents who had emigrated from Russia 2 His family decided to change their surname from Merinsky to Merns when his father and elder brother George opened a store on Vesey Street in Lower Manhattan Syms went to Midwood High School in Brooklyn 1 After serving in the United States Army he attended New York University on the G I Bill 2 He initially began a career as a sportscaster and reporter in Maryland and West Virginia However in 1950 Syms returned to New York City in order to work at the family s store 1 In 1959 Syms opened a men s clothing store on nearby Cortlandt Street in New York City s Financial District The store which was initially named Sy Merns competed directly with his family s original store on Vesey Street 1 However he was forced to change the store s name to simply SYMS after legal action was taken against him 1 He later had his name legally changed to Sy Syms to match the store 1 The company slowly expanded during the 1960s and 1970s By 1983 Syms had taken the company public with an initial public offering and expanded the chain to include eleven retail locations 1 At its height the chain had 48 locations in thirteen states 1 On November 2 2011 Syms Corp and its subsidiary Filene s Basement filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after more than a half a century in the clothing business Sy Syms remained the company s CEO until his retirement in 1998 when he was succeeded by his daughter Marcy Syms 1 He remained the company s chairman until he died of heart failure at his home in Manhattan New York City on November 17 2009 2 Personal life editHis first marriage to Ruth Glickman Merns ended in divorce They had six children Marcy Robert Richard Laura Stephen died in 1998 3 and Adrienne died in 1999 1 4 His second wife was Lynn Tamarkin by whom he had two step children 1 Cary Tamarkin and Leslie Tamarkin 5 Funeral services were held at Temple Emanu El in Manhattan 5 non sequitur Sy Syms Foundation editThe non profit Sy Syms Foundation was founded by Syms in 1985 with his personal funds to support education It has given away over 30 000 000 and has contributed toward the continued growth of many institutions of higher learning including the Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University and many organizations which provide funding for education 6 The foundation has been a major supporter Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio NPR through the underwriting of various programming Marcy Syms was instrumental in developing many of the grant relationships made possible by her late father s generosity and is a founding trustee of the foundation elected to the role of president in 1997 The foundation has its offices in Fort Lee New Jersey References edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Founder of SYMS discount clothing store dies San Francisco Chronicle 2009 10 17 Archived from the original on November 19 2009 Retrieved 2009 11 18 a b c Duhigg Charles Sy Syms Founder of Discount Chain Dies at 83 The New York Times Wednesday November 18 2009 New York Times Paid Notice Deaths SYMS MERNS STEPHEN August 31 1998 Washington Post Clothing retailer Sy Syms 83 By Patricia Sullivan November 18 2009 a b SY SYMS Obituary November 18 2009 Sy Syms Foundation About Us Sy Syms Foundation Retrieved 2017 01 15 External links edithttps www yu edu syms about mission history Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sy Syms amp oldid 1161075220, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
