Obituary

Joseph H. Schubert

Mon, 09/25/2017 - 11:00am

Joseph Henry Schubert, of New Canaan, Connecticut and Barters Island, Boothbay, died Sept. 22, 2017.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Patricia Wolff Schubert; son, Spencer A. Schubert and wife Sara Karl Schubert, grandsons Cole, Ethan, and Jeremy and granddaughter Rebecca, all of New Canaan; son, Derek K. Schubert of Oakland, California; and son, Craig D. Schubert and wife Nathalie Cort Schubert, grandson Jack and granddaughter Liv, all of Bronxville, New York.

Joe was born in New York on Aug. 18, 1938, to Elsie F. and Joseph C. Schubert. Upon graduation from Fordham University School of Business in 1959, where he had been elected to the honor fraternities of Beta Gamma Sigma and Beta Alpha Psi, he joined Price Waterhouse and Co., and became an SEC reporting specialist. In 1968, he was hired as director of finance at Faulkner, Dawkins and Sullivan, an institutionally oriented research securities firm, where he later rose to executive vice president, treasurer, and member of the board of directors. In 1978, he joined the law firm of Shearman and Sterling, a multinational law firm, as the firm's first non-lawyer director of administration. In January 1990, he became the chief administrative officer of Wasserstein Perella, then a young firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions and wealth management.

He resided with his family in Montclair, New Jersey from 1972 to 1987, and then in New Canaan. Joe retired in 1998 after buying a summer home on Barters Island, where he and his wife became actively involved in the community. His interest in gardening led him to the newly founded Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, where he was a member of the board of directors and the finance committee, and chairman of the audit committee.

His family was most important to him. As a dedicated father and grandfather, he could often be found sitting on the sidelines of their soccer games, attending a ballet or piano recital, playing Monopoly in many versions, and reading to his six grandchildren. He never tired of that. Friday mornings found him at the Men’s Club of New Canaan, where he enjoyed the companionship of other retirees and the intellectual stimulation of the speakers. Joe and his wife enjoyed taking many cruises with lifelong friends. He is remembered as a true gentleman — kind, generous, eloquent, honest and humble. He had a special ability to remember you and make you feel welcomed. His sons and grandchildren are thankful for inheriting his love of cookies and ice cream.

To honor Joe's wish to not be remembered with sadness, a celebration of his truly blessed life will be held later in the year.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, PO Box 234, Boothbay, ME 04537 (www.mainegardens.org); Americares, 88 Hamilton Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902 (www.americares.org) or a charity of your choice.

For online condolences please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com.