John Leonard Schneider's Obituary
John provided a nice narrative of his life which he wished to share with everyone, here goes.
"My lungs filled with air and I came out screaming 'bloody murder' when I entered the Earth's atmosphere on the morning of June 18, 1948, at Our Lady of The Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Hot and Humid South Louisiana would be my environment for the following 20 years or so while I became accustomed to its sub-tropical climate and abundant water in all forms.
At an early age I became instilled with an affection for high places and vistas in this mostly sea level countryside. It began with my first airplane ride at age three while seated in my Father's lap as we rose from the runway at Ryan airport in Mr. Hall's petite Ercoupe. I still recall being dragged by my Father towards the airplane...and not wanting to get out once we landed and were parked.
That yearning for high place continued to brew up to my first flying lesson at age twelve. Finally reaching the age of sixteen, I accumulated more than enough flying hours, and I had reached the legal age to "solo" in an old Cessna 150. My 250-pound instructor stepped out mid-field, wished me "Good Luck!"; and that plane lifted off so quickly from the ground with just me in the now-spacious cockpit. WOW!
And I earned my pilot's license before I had my driver's license.
Over the following years while moving around the country, I was given the opportunities to fly various vintage and contemporary single-engine and multi-engine airplanes...including a 1937 Stinson Reliant with leather-cushioned seats and growling radial engine, the good ole Piper J-3 Cub, and more. Right-hand seat in the old LSU sports team DC-3 doesn't count, but its TWO radial engines sounded wonderful.
During my time living in Colorado, I learned to soar within the thermals and in "mountain waves" while strapped into Schweitzer and Grob gliders...the ultimate experience of flight without the need of an engine to remain aloft. During my first solo in a glider, I rode a thermal to 15, 000 feet, accompanied partway by a large hawk and a "gaggle" of other sailplanes.
When I wasn't soaring over the mountains, I was climbing to the summits of fifteen of Colorado's peaks above 14, 000 feet, including the tallest: Mt. Elbert. The most exciting climb and most scenic???...Mt Sneffels! Followed by a very long and relaxing soak in Ouray's hot springs.
Living in Oregon for 14 years, I re-kindled my love of water, interacting with "La Mer" along the coast throughout my time there. Getting out during coastal storms during the Winters were my favorite times. I would stay in the little village of Oceanside for month-long stretches in a small cottage looking down upon the beach and pounding surf.
Moving to Utah, its vast deserts invited my ever-searching soul to "wonder while I wandered." There are no words to describe my experience while camped far into the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument as I stared past the three-dimensional Milky Way and into the Universe beyond! Well...maybe there IS one word: "Dumbstruck." And, maybe, another: "Humbling."
Regressing back to 1969 when I was drafted into the Army, I found myself patrolling the Korean DMZ, chasing down the "bad guys" for almost fifteen months following four months of training in the U.S.. I was honorably discharged after only 19 months of my two-year obligation to Uncle Sam since I chose to remain in a "hostile fire zone" longer than required. As soon as the plane with me onboard returned to Seattle, I was a free man with extra cash in my pocket. I did not want to return to a U.S. Army training base for the last six months, wearing clean starched uniforms, polishing boots and brass, eating military food, saluting officers younger than me, and harassing frightened young recruits in a manner in which I was once treated. Instead, I returned home to Louisiana to regain my sanity over two years and by taking driving trips to visit relatives in Colorado and Virginia.
Following that two-year sabbatical, I began working for United Airlines, starting at Chicago O'Hare, transferring to Denver, Portland and then to Salt Lake City. I lasted almost thirty-seven years before retiring. It afforded me the opportunity to visit Europe and to mingle with interesting people who, like me, worked for a living and enjoyed the lives they created for themselves. I felt most "at home" while wandering around France since my roots were well established in south Louisiana's French culture.
Following a two week-long retirement from the airlines, I hired on to a city government job at the Salt Lake City International Airport. I lasted there for a ten years until I reached the age of seventy and retired again...old enough to collect full Social Security benefits.
Between living in the Northwest and Utah, I fell in love with an orange tabby cat named "Wally" who (yes, "who") I stole from a girlfriend who decided that she would also adopt a pit bull. I shared the last sixteen years of his life , learning many lessons about loyalty between man and "beast" and becoming half-cat myself. His ashes have joined mine in this container, and I couldn't think of a better traveling companion.
So...I'm done with this earthly life. For a little water baby that started off in the bayous of Louisiana, I experienced many things over my life span...and I'm satisfied.
I am now in the presence of the Eternal Light and Love that has created everything. I mean, EVERYTHING! I really hope to meet up with you all there! It's going to be amazing!!!"
And that, everyone, is that, shared by John to each and all. I must add to his story his love of music, and accomplishments in that arena. He immersed himself in learning the fiddle (Cajun, Irish and Bluegrass) and banjo. He sat in on legit sessions in the Portland Irish music scene, and played banjo with players all over the USA. He knew and appreciated the classical canon, too. He cooked with love and skill, and shared his delicious handiwork with many of us, and, like so many aspects of his life, he loved all types. Toward the end he wanted us all to send pictures of food, music from everywhere, our thoughts and stories. He didn't want to hear how sorry we were for him, he wanted to know how we were doing, what was going great, and even in the recent trying times as his soul was outgrowing what his body could handle, he was happy for our small and large successes. When word got out about his passing, so many people said 'he was one of a kind', which he was. We were fortunate to know him, and we'll all continue to feel his grace until we meet him again sometime soon.
He is survived by his sister Elizabeth McCusker (Durham, NC), his brother Bill Schneider (in Port Allen, Louisiana), his cousin Tim Schneider (Littleton, CO) nephews Michael Cotten (Durham, NC) and Charlie Schneider (Port Allen, LA), and nieces Lisa Duffy (Quechee, VT) and Stephanie Fiscus (Addis, LA), and grand-nieces Emily Cotten (Cincinnati, OH), Bridget Cotten (New Orleans, LA), London Fiscus (Addis LA) and Kennedy Fiscus (Addis and Natchitoches LA), and his brother-in-law, Mike Cotten (Summerville, SC)
He is preceded in death by his mother Elizabeth "BeBee" and father Charlie "Chief", and his sister Barbara Cotten. On his mother's side uncles Ferol, Clifton (Kippy) and George, and aunts Myrtis (Sister Mary George O.P.), Wilbur Tolusso, and Audrey Schneider. On his father's Schneider side, uncles John (who John is named for), Bob, Jimmy, and Richard, and aunts Inez Dickenson and Julia Schneider, as well as his cousin Susan Schneider (another great artist and teacher, in Littleton, CO).
We will be meeting at the O'Donnell Funeral Home on Tuesday, at 11 AM mountain time for a celebratory gathering of friends and family. At 1 o'clock we'll be meeting for the graveside in the Salt Lake City Cemetery at 1 PM. Friends and Family are also invited to John's house for ongoing conversation, music and food, starting at 3.
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?
