George Razook, a women’s fashion store legend and longtime resident of Rye, died peacefully on May 13, 2017 with his family by his side.
Born in New York City on April 25, 1926, he spent his early years in Pinehurst, N.C. He fondly remembered attending Miss Chapman’s one- room schoolhouse in Pinehurst, before leaving for The Fessenden School. He graduated from The Taft School and, after serving in the Army during World War II, Williams College. A loyal Williams’ alumnus, he took great pride in being amongst “the stubborn survivors of the class of ’50.” After receiving his business degree at NYU Stern School, he joined Razook’s, a designer women’s clothing chain located at the Plaza Hotel, Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Lake Placid Club, and Pinehurst.
As president, he expanded the footprint of the company his parents founded and moved the headquarters to Greenwich, in the 1960s. The company thrived under his leadership, and was noted by Time magazine as having been used in a superior court case to define luxury retail.
Mr. Razook enjoyed the camaraderie of golf as much as the game itself. He first held a golf club at the age of 3, and in later years swore by his putter “Magic.” His years in the US Seniors’ Golf Association were a great source of happiness. He was a member of the Apawamis, American Yacht, John’s Island, and Lake Placid clubs.
From the first summer of his life until almost his last, he spent summers in Lake Placid, and the lifelong family friendships made there were among his most treasured. His years at Camp Dudley became an honored tradition for his son Bradley, daughter Lauren, and grandsons.
He loved to dance; at the Stork Club or Palladium, at parties, weddings, or “Club 50,” one would find him with his wife Claudia on the dance floor having a ball. One of the great joys of their extraordinarily happy 64-year marriage was their shared morning “Tex and Jinx” breakfast. They were best friends and never tired of each other’s company.
An optimist, he took great care to convey that attitude to his children and grandchildren. He would often say, “demand good luck”, and he received it in volumes. His friends thought him the best of friends, he was a cherished husband and father, and his eight grandsons adored him.
In addition to his wife, Claudia, Mr. Razook is survived by his children, Leslie (Hans Eschricht), Bradley (Mary Jo), and Lauren (John Roth); grandsons George (Christina), Charlie, Christopher, and Harry Razook, Nicholas, Peter, and William Roth, and Henry Eschricht; and his sisters, Jacqueline Chamandy and Renee Dunne.
A service in celebration of his life will be held at Christ’s Church in Rye, May 31 at 3 p.m. and be immediately followed by a reception at American Yacht Club. A memorial service will be held in Lake Placid later in the summer.
Donations in George Razook’s memory may be sent to Camp Dudley, 126 Dudley Road, Westport, NY 12993, or in lieu, root for the NY Giants.
