Obituary of John Edward Schachte III

John Edwin Schachte, III, affectionately known as Topper, of Charleston, SC, passed away on Saturday, December 10, 2022, after a brief illness. The relatives and friends of Topper are invited to attend a memorial service at 1:00pm, Friday, December 30, 2022, at South Carolina Society Hall, 72 Meeting Street. Topper was born on June 1, 1944, in Charleston, SC, to John Edwin Schachte, Jr., and Anne Thorne Schachte. He graduated from Charleston High School and attended The Citadel and Belmont Abbey College. After college, Topper briefly worked for the family business, Henry Schachte & Sons Insurance Co., before acquiring and running The Three Nags bar on George Street. He went on to work 35 years for local retailer M. Dumas & Sons, where he was relied on by many for his excellent taste and expertise in fitting everything from Levi’s to tuxedos. Topper was a lover of music, who treasured his record collection as much as he enjoyed live performances of all kinds. A devoted son, brother, father and husband, Topper was an avid reader, a renowned storyteller, and a wonderful dancer; he frequently was the life of the party. Ever the gentleman, he made everyone around him feel welcome and accepted.

He was predeceased by his parents and by his brother, Stephen Thomas Schachte. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Margaret Nelson Schachte and by his former wife, Margaret Pringle Schachte, and by his children, Christopher Charles Schachte (Nildan Atkay), Anna Pringle Schachte (Aaron Warren), Sarah Schachte Morrow (Will Morrow), and Laura Schachte Ruddy (Austin Ruddy), and by his grandchildren Oona Margaret, John Fuller, Charlotte Crawford, Ramona Louise, Presley Anne, and Nora Audrey, as well as four nieces and four nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the South Carolina Society Hall Fund, PO Box 97, Charleston, SC, 29402, or to Dorchester Paws, 136 Four Paws Lane, Summerville, SC 29483. Cremation services are provided by Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services of North Charleston.