Michael “Bud” Schreff, a longtime resident of Hamden, CT, Woodbridge, CT, Lake Worth, Fla., and Greenwich, CT, passed into eternal life on December 19, 2022 He was 97 years young.
Michael was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He was the son of Israel and Helen Schreff, both of blessed memory. He was employed for many years at the New Haven Superior Court and Bridgeport Superior Court, as a court reporter, and later he ran his own court reporting business, serving many clients in New Haven County and Fairfield County, Connecticut.
A U.S. Army veteran of World War 2, he proudly served from age 19 to 21 in France, Germany, Philippines and Japan. While traveling on long voyages from one country to another on U.S. Army troop ships, he taught himself how to play the harmonica, and performed many songs for fellow soldiers. Later in life, he owned a large collection of harmonicas, that he played frequently for his family and friends. He even won the Crowd’s Choice Award at the Florida Harmonica Competition at age 91!
He was a long-time member of Temple Mishkan Israel in Hamden, Connecticut. His greatest passion was his wife Anita Lutchin Schreff, of blessed memory, to whom he was married for 60 years, and with whom he now shares eternal rest beside her. A lifelong reader and learner, with a passion for travel, led him to participate in over 40 Elder Hostels with Anita all over the world. A devoted athlete during his entire life, he played tennis every day, swam one mile every day, and worked out with personal athletic trainers daily to maintain his strength and fortitude. His nickname was “Mr. Muscularity!” He was also a self-taught musician, born with near perfect pitch, and sang, played the piano, harmonica, and ukulele; and performed in bands at U.S. military veterans’ centers well into his 90’s. His musical performance range varied from Johann Strauss waltzes to Sousa military marches to Harry Belafonte Caribbean style music. And if you asked him what he liked best besides his family and friends, he said, “I Love a Parade!” So his family took him for decades to many parades, commemorating Independence Day and Veterans Day. He prided himself on being a persistent optimist, and no matter the life challenge that he was shown, he worked to overcome it with a steadfast motto to “never give up,” and to “always do more than is asked of you.”
When any family member was confronted with a difficult problem or life challenge, his wise guidance consistently was “Who is in charge of you? You are! Now go to work and solve it.” This spirit and commitment has guided his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild.
Mr. Schreff is survived by his beloved son David Schreff (Connecticut) and his daughter-in-law Melissa; his beloved son Joshua Schreff (California); his cherished loving grandchildren Benjamin Tavris Schreff and his wife Leah Plante Schreff, and his great-grandson Milo Schreff; his cherished loving grandson Daniel Morgan Schreff, and his cherished loving granddaughter, Rebecca Eden Schreff. He was pre-deceased by his beloved wife of 60 years, Anita Lutchin Schreff; his devoted brother Arthur Schreff, and by his parents Israel and Helen Schreff, all of blessed memory. He is remembered with love by Arthur’s wife Rita Schreff, niece Mindy Schreff and her husband Steven Schutzer; nephew Richard Schreff; niece Janet Kaplan and her husband Al Kaplan and their son Max Kaplan; nephew David Siegel and his wife Vicky Siegel, and their son Aaron Siegel; cousins Howie and Lori Friedman, Judy Friedman, and Lee Friedman. Michael loved them all, along with their extended families. Michael was also devoted to Melissa Hoskins Schreff’s family, including Margaret Hoskins, and Lowell Hoskins (of blessed memory); Bonnie Hoskins and her husband Jim Llamas, and their sons, James and William; David Hoskins and his wife Anne; Laurel Hoskins and her husband Stephen Pevar, and their daughters Lianna and Elena; Jill Hoskins, her daughter Sarah, and Sarah’s husband, Ben Minges.
Graveside services for family and close friends were held on Wednesday, December 21 at Congregation Mishkan Israel Cemetery, New Haven, CT.
The family thanks Congregation Mishkan Israel, Yale New Haven/Greenwich (CT) Hospital, the Jewish Community Center, Ridge Top Club, The Fountains community (Lake Worth, Fla.), and Camp Lakota (where Michael met his beloved wife Anita while folk dancing, www.camplakota.com/
Instead of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to the non-profit organization, Family Centers, 40 Arch Street, Greenwich, CT. 06830, familycenters.org/products/index.php?type=795/
