Clarine Schmukler

1923 - 2024

Clarine Schmukler passed away peacefully on November 20, 2024. She was 101 years old. Born Clarine Ada Shapiro on September 27,1923 in Erie, Pennsylvania to Samuel and Lillian (Wexler) Shapiro, she became the first member of her family to attain a college degree, from Miami University of Ohio in 1944; she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She went on to earn a Master's of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There she met her husband-to-be, PhD candidate and WWII veteran Sidney Schmukler. They were married in 1947, and were together just short of 70 years. After their marriage and graduations, they moved to Connecticut and then Iowa due to Sidney's academic career. In 1950, when Sidney took a position in the U.S. Department of State, they settled in McLean, Virginia, where they raised their three children. Between 1963 and 1966, the family moved to Lima, Peru, where Sidney was stationed as the First Economic Secretary in the U.S. Embassy and the Deputy Director of the U.S. Agency for International Development's Mission. Afterwards, the family returned to McLean, Virginia. Clarine and Sidney were founding members of Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, Virginia. Clarine was very active with the Democratic Party, a variety of political causes and social justice charity work, as well as a rich social life. Later in life, she and Sidney made many domestic and international trips, largely through Elderhostel (now Road Scholar)—they were lifelong learners. For the last seven years, she resided at Vinson Hall in McLean, where she remained engaged with politics, literature, her friends and her children until the very last days of her life. She is predeceased by her parents, sister Bernice Glick and brother Harvey Shapiro, and beloved husband Sidney. She is survived by her three children: Joan Atherton, Laurence Schmukler (Mariana Pardo), and Phil Harris (Erica Dunn), brother Dr. Melvyn Shapiro, numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, and her friends. Her family expresses its gratitude to her caregivers. She will be missed. Service private.