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Memorial Keepers(2)
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David Schectman
May 6th, 1956 - May 7th, 2025
May 6th, 1956 - May 7th, 2025
Ian (David) Schectman was born on May 6, 1956, as the eldest of two sons to Phyllis Smith and Aaron Schectman of Colonia, New Jersey. His love of the arts was evident early on and developed into life-long passions for reading, writing, drawing comics, and telling jokes. In his early twenties, David moved to the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles to be near his mother, Phyllis, and his step-father, Raymond Cayse. David passed away in his home in Tarzana, California, on May 7, 2025, at age 69.
Throughout his life, David was drawn to people and maintained decades-long relationships all across the U.S. He was proud of his twenty-year career working in the file room at Kaiser Permanente and was blessed with health insurance for the rest of his life as a result of that work. Additionally, David was dedicated to personal improvement. He joined many health-related self-help organizations, where he found loving support through passionate mentors and caring friendships. In his later years, he took great pleasure in showcasing his success in losing “a whole person” in weight and other significant health improvements with the support of some very devoted caregivers.
David’s life was filled with creativity, loving relationships, and eternal optimism despite the many chronic life-long health challenges he courageously faced. He was incredibly grateful for the gift of loving support that he received from the people in his life and often spoke about his desire to be of service to others. He faithfully spent time checking on beloved family and friends and shared his gift of presence through conversation, reading to others, and sharing his writing, artwork, and humor. Although his life was far too short, he left behind a legacy of loving friendship.
David is preceded in death by his mother, Phyllis Cayse; father, Aaron Schectman; stepfather, Raymond Cayse; and stepmother, Carol Schectman. His surviving family members include: brother, Hal Schectman (Denise); stepmother, Dojie Cayse; step-siblings, Julie Kirkpatrick (Brent), Russ Cayse (Lisa), David Reisman, and Michael Reisman (Mary Rose); cousins, including Ray Wexler (Elaine) and Ed Wexler (Brenda); and many nieces and nephews. He will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to be a part of his story.
A graveside service will be held at the Mount Sinai Chapel in Simi Valley on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to organizations near and dear to David’s heart:
United Ostomy Associations of America, Inc.,
P. O. Box 2293, Biddeford, ME 04005-2293, 800-826-0826, https://www.ostomy.org/donate/
Parkinson’s Foundation
5757 Waterford District Drive, Ste 310, Miami, FL 33126, 800-473-4636
Events
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Tributes
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Linda Bruskoff
After the Memorial, I wrote this: I am tired I am drained I am so sad. To loose a friend Is hard It hurts It breaks my heart It is so final. I will miss you, David The sharings Understanding each other Caring about each other. Friends for all these years Stories we told each other Deep conversations we shared All honest and true. Encouragement, we gave each other. Time, we made for each other. Sincerity, was always there. I will miss you Your positivity in your hard reality Your joy and happiness at small yet meaningful things Your real and hopeful spirit. I will miss our talks I will miss our texts I will miss having a friend like you. Memories Memories Will be in my heart and soul Your words and thoughts, too. So glad to have know you.
Linda Bruskoff
Since at David's Memorial, Julie told me of this site and said I could write what I spoke about. Here it is: David and I met at a Kaiser Bi-Polar Class at Sherman Terrace which was about 10 years ago. we remained friends ever since. David and I are both Jewish. We both had Bi-polar Disease and worked to understand it, deal with it and be better people. I was always impressed by David's attitude. No matter his physical or mental illness, he would handle it and maintain a realistic and positive attitude. My husband, Larry, and I went to David's Comedy Performance a the Used Book Store. David would also text me several comics or jokes sometimes that made me smile. Larry and I took him to Bob's Big Boy to celebrate his birthday. We would all sing Happy Birthday and share the Hot Fudge Cake. Mostly for the past 6 years, we mainly talked on the phone or texted each other regularly where we shared what was going on in our lives. He was so helpful for me to understand how to handle various medical conditions. He would ask about Larry and how he was with his illnesses. He would give me wise advice and emotional support. On Fridays, he would sent me a text saying "Shabbat shalom". And on many holidays, like Thanksgiving, New Year's Passover and Hanukkah , we would wish each other a happy holiday and text about what we were doing to celebrate. David was a caring, supportive and kind friend. We could talk about what was going on and how we felt about it. He would respond with understanding, awareness and encouragement. Thank you, Julie, for inviting us today to this Memorial for David. We are honored to attend. We will miss David's sincere friendship. Linda and Larry Bruskoff
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