Rachel Leah Schechtman, 74

BROOKLINE, MASS. – Rachel Leah Schechtman passed away suddenly from an aggressive cancer on April 28, surrounded by loving family members.  Rachel was born on Sept. 6, 1942, in Boston. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Harold I. Schechtman and the late Harriet K. (Cohen) Schechtman.

She is survived by her brothers Joe and Mike; sister Judy; sisters-in-law Lauren (Gibber) Schechtman and Holly Bander; and brother-in-law Ed De Vos.  She delighted in her nephew, Noah Schechtman and his fiancée, Kathryn Raskin, and her nieces Leah Schechtman, Erica De Vos, and Sarah De Vos and her husband, Jeff Drouin, as well as her great-nephews and great-niece. 

Rachel graduated from Boston University School of Education and embarked on a life-long career as an outstanding elementary school teacher.  Rachel was known for her joyous devotion to students and for nurturing their untapped capacities.

Her greatest loves were family, flowers and gardening, the arts, and captivating the minds and igniting curiosity in children everywhere.

Donations honoring Rachel’s legacy may be made in her name to the Boston Museum of Science, www.mos.org/make-a-gift.