Harry B. Schaechter of West Hartford died on Tuesday, March 25, 2014. He was 85 years old. He was born in Langensalsa, Germany on December 10, 1928 to Arnold and Ruth Schaechter. The family fled Nazi Germany in late 1933 and lived in New York City.

Harry spent his early days in Manhattan and Brooklyn. He was a proud member of the Brooklyn Tech Foundation and the City College of New York Alumni Association. He was a graduate of the University of Hartford and proudly served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

Harry married Ida Smith in 1956 and spent 55 happy years together raising their two daughters. Once their children were grown, Harry and Ida traveled the world, including a visit to Harry’s hometown following the reunification of Germany.

Harry was passionate about his beloved town of West Hartford and served in many capacities. He served as the chairman of the Housing Authority, chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals and as an alternate on the Town Council. He also served on the West Hartford Board of Assessors and chaired the 7th District of the Democratic Town Committee.

Harry was the long-time chairman of the Greater Hartford Flood Commission and was an alternate member of the Metropolitan District Commission. He also served as the president of the East Hartford Kiwanis Club.

A proud, life-long Democrat, Harry helped many young hopefuls get their start in local politics, both by designing campaigns and by providing strategic counsel. He also owned and operated Schaechter Advertising for many years.

He was predeceased by his much adored wife, Ida, in 2011 and his sister Bernice Soll. He leaves his two much beloved daughters, Judith and her husband Michael and their daughter Alana of Arlington, MA, and younger daughter Lauren and her husband Andrew and their two adored children Deanna and Sam of Weatogue, CT. He also leaves his sister, Susi Delldonna of Middletown and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, March 27, 2014 in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi Mendel Samuels officiating. Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Ave., West Hartford 06107. A memorial period will be observed following the interment through Sunday evening at the home of his daughter, Lauren S. Lieberman, 22 Lincoln Lane, Weatogue, CT 06089. In lieu of flowers, donations in Harry’s memory may be made to Chabad of the Farmington Valley, 141 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06089 or to the Ida Schaechter Math Scholarship Fund at the University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Harry, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.