Sidney Packer

Packer-Sidney, age 99, of Palm Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on Amelia Island, FL, on August 12, 2023. Beloved husband of Eleanor Gerb (d.2012) of New Rochelle, NY, for nearly 65 years, Sidney was the youngest of four children of Yetta and Louis Packer of Philadelphia, PA.

After graduating from South Philadelphia High School for Boys in 1942,

Sidney entered Temple University, majoring in Business. In 1943, he enlisted in the Armed Forces, serving with the US Army during World War II.

Immediately after his 1947 marriage to Eleanor, the couple settled in Huntington, New York. Together, they established Packer’s Wholesale Distributors, a business in Huntington Station which grew over the next 30 years to become one of Long Island’s largest wholesale distributors of candy, paper goods, and fountain syrups. After selling the business, he and Eleanor became real estate brokers, working in residential real estate with Huntington Bay Realty for the next 11 years, until retiring to Florida in 1988. Sidney and Eleanor were active in the Palm Beach Jewish Community, as members of Temple Beth El of West Palm Beach, and Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach. They were lifelong supporters of Israel and, through American Friends of Magen David Adom, donated an ambulance to Israel’s national emergency medical service. Sidney moved to Amelia Island, FL, in 2020.

He leaves behind two daughters, Aileen (Al) Cwanger of Cherry Hill, NJ, and Lake Worth, Florida; Marcia Schechter Rubenstein (Arthur Rubenstein) of Delray Beach, FL; and two sons, Jeffrey (Jane Sandhaus) Packer M.D. of Fernandina Beach, FL; and Gregory Packer of Huntington, NY, along with seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Sidney will be remembered for his warmth and wit; his optimistic yet realistic perspective on life; his love of music (especially Frank Sinatra) and dancing ability; and his devotion to family. He enjoyed NFL football (Go Packers!), thick milkshakes, and the New York Times, which he read daily for over 70 years.

His credo: “Stay well! Think young! Have fun!”

Donations in Sidney’s memory may be made to American Friends of Magen David Adom  afmda.org , or to Community Hospice & Palliative Care www.communityhospice.com

May Sidney’s memory be for a blessing.