Sy Syms
| Sy Syms | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Seymour Merinsky May 12, 1926 Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | November 17, 2009 (aged 83) Manhattan, New York |
| Cause of death | heart failure |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth Glickman Merns (divorced) Lynn Tamarkin |
| Children |
with Glickman Merns: --Marcy Syms --Robert Syms --Richard Syms --Stephen Syms (deceased) --Adrienne Syms (deceased) --Laura Syms two step-children: --Cary Tamarkin --Leslie Tamarkin |
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.
Syms was born Seymour Merinsky on May 12, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the youngest of eight children of Jewish parents who had emigrated from Russia. His family decided to change their surname from "Merinsky" to "Merns" when his father and son opened a store on Vesey Street in Lower Manhattan. Syms went to Midwood High School in Brooklyn. After serving in the United States Army, he attended New York University on the G.I. Bill.
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. 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. However, he was forced to change the store's name to simply, SYMS, after legal action was taken against him. He later had his name legally changed to Sy Syms to match the store.
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