Tibor Otto Schaechner

We are heartbroken to announce the death of our father, Tibor Otto Schaechner. He passed away peacefully at the age of 98, surrounded by friends and family.

Tibor was born on March 29, 1928, to Sarah and Alexander Schaechner in Budapest, Hungary. He attended a Jewish School and lived a sheltered life among the 6,000 to 7,000 Jews in his Budapest neighborhood. Sarah and Alexander owned a successful down and feather export business. Until his teens, Tibor enjoyed a comfortable life in Hungary.

Tragically, that all ended when he was fifteen, and the Nazis arrived in Hungary. His father was enslaved and sent to Austria and never returned home. Tibor often shared, “There is no grave to visit.” Tibor witnessed first-hand the murders of his sister, grandparents, cousins, and uncles. After many harrowing stories of escape and loss of family and friends, Tibor survived the Holocaust and left Hungary. He took refuge in Austria for a short while and eventually settled in Canada in 1951. Soon after immigrating to Canada, Tibor met Agnes Klein on a blind date at Jones Beach in New York. They married in 1956 and together had three daughters. Tibor and Agnes moved from New York to El Paso in 1960.

Tibor worked for 36 years at The Popular department store until his retirement as a store buyer, in 1996. He was immensely proud of his career at The Popular. His wife, Agnes, died in 1998. Following Agnes’s passing, Tibor married Ann Schwartz Goodman in 1999. Ann passed away in 2019. Tibor was a devoted and loving husband.

Tibor was active in the Jewish community, supporting the El Paso Holocaust Museum as a Board Member and a docent. Throughout his life, he made numerous community presentations about surviving the Holocaust, including speaking to middle-school-age students, military personnel, and, as recently as 2023, Stephanie Valle at KVIA El Paso.

During one of his grade school presentations, the students wrote Tibor letters and shared the following: “I have always wanted to meet someone who has experienced an important part of history. You are a great man who did not deserve to live through this. You gave us a lot of good information and made me cry a little. You taught me a very good lesson, and I promise to do what you said, I won’t make the Holocaust happen again. You are History.”

Tibor’s passing is a great loss to the El Paso Holocaust Museum and to the El Paso community — the loss of another individual who could testify first-hand about his experiences during the Holocaust and a loss of a piece of history.

Tibor held many honorable leadership roles. He was a member of Congregation B’nai Zion, including Board Member and President of the Congregation’s Men’s Club. He was a member of Temple Mount Sinai, and a Board Member of the El Paso Jewish Federation. In 2023, Tibor also was honored with El Paso Holocaust Museum’s Henry Kellen Founder’s Award and was an Associate Member of Hadassah. He was very proud of his Jewish Heritage and had a close connection to Israel.

Tibor was enthusiastic about the Dallas Cowboys, swimming, playing card games, and traveling- he especially loved Cruises. Tibor had over one hundred baseball caps from all over the world. He was an avid reader of the news, enjoyed surfing the Internet, and loved watching “old black and white movies” on TV. In his younger years, he was quite a star soccer player and an ambitious golfer. He was especially known for his sense of humor, charm, and generous heart! Without a doubt, Tibor was happiest when spending time with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes Klein Schaechner, and second wife, Ann Schwartz Schaechner; his parents Sarah and Alexander Schaechner, stepfather Peter Biro, his sister, Magda Schaechner; and his brother and sisters-in-law, Otto Klein, Lydia Gallo Klein, Frank Klein, Edward and Evelyn Schwartz.

Tibor is survived by his daughters, Lillian Schaechner (Elaine Weissman), Audrey Lavi (Eitan), and Susie Schaechner; his grandchildren, Dr. Mordechai Lavi (Amanda), Yamit Lavi (Brian Hayt), and Danny Lavi; his great-grandson, Elliott Lavi; his stepchildren, Robert E. Goodman, Jr. (Joanne); Ellen Goodman, Susan Novick (David), and Rebecca Krasne (Alan); his step-grandchildren, Trude Tiesi (John), Peter Goodman (Jessica), Lt. Charles Goodman, (Emily) and Andrew Goodman (Amanda Schwartz); and his step great-grandchildren, Jeanne Tiese, Gigi Goodman, Wells Goodman, George Goodman, and Isabelle Goodman.

The family extends its heartfelt thanks to Rosie Bujanda, and to all the staff at Maraiah Oaks Senior Care.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 1:00 PM at B’nai Zion Cemetery, 3915 Gateway West Blvd, El Paso, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to El Paso Holocaust Museum, 715 North Oregon Street, El Paso, Texas, 79902.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Eitan Lavi, Moti Lavi, Danny Lavi, Brian Hayt, Alan Krasne, Stuart Schwartz, Bob Snow, and Tripper Goodman.

Services are entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home West. Please visit their online registry at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.

May Tibor Otto Schaechner, z”l, forever be a blessing.