Lasting Tributes
Created a Video in memory of William Randolph Schneider Jr..
William Randolph Schneider Jr.
Birth date: Dec 3, 1942 Death date: Nov 23, 2021
Tribute Wall
Steve Derby
Bill, there was Nightingale, which was faster; there was the Cape yacht club and good fellowship; and then there was jazz, jazz and more jazz. We will miss you. Steve and Carolyn Derby
Chris Wozniak
We were fortunate to work with Bill over many years at EPA and will always fondly remember his good-natured ways, never getting cross with anyone over any matter. He was a kind, gentle soul who brightened up any gathering, usually accompanied by a corny joke or two! One of my favorite memories of Bill was accompanying him and his sons to a sailing race near Annapolis in 2001. The day started off promising, but then the wind died down and it was clear no race would take place with sailboats that day. Not to be deterred, Bill and sons decided to launch a water balloon fight, starting with the US Navy ship alongside us! Needless to say, we were outgunned, but the day turned out great, thanks to Bill and his great attitude.
I’m currently editing a paper on the release of genetically engineered bacteria into the environment and not too surprisingly, as I delve into older literature and newspaper articles from the 1980s, I ran across Bill’s name several times. I had previously discussed those times with Bill, but it never dawned on me that when he led the team to approve field testing of a product known as Ice-minus or Frostban in 1985-87, it was the first time in the US and likely the entire world that any regulator had approved the release of a genetically engineered organism of any kind! To say it was a big deal is an understatement. It clearly took confidence and guts to make that decision in the face of immense public and political pressure to abandon this new genetic technology. That was Bill, blazing a trail!
We will miss him in many ways and it is appropriate that we celebrate a life well led. May the great memories he left us with sustain us all for years to come.
Chris Wozniak and Jeannine Kausch
Phil Hutton
Wish I could be there for Bill’[s Memorial Gathering but unfortunately I will be down in Florida for my grandson’s kidney-versary (transplant celebration). In my absence let me share some recollections.
Bill and I worked a lot together at EPA. We first met while working on guidelines. Bill’s sense of humor made a bland job a lot more fun. Later we worked on the genetically engineered stuff.
Bill liked to travel. Me, not so much. Back then I was still raising kids and farming along with my EPA gig so traveling meant a lot of compromises. Bill was always more than happy to take my place. Win/Win, right? Thanks to Bill I was able to see little league and girl’s lacrosse games, and still take care of my cows and hay crop. I will always be grateful.
I remember one specific trip where we traveled together along with Phil Sayre of Toxic Substances to a microbial pesticides conference in Taiwan. Neither Bill nor I was in very good shape. Bill had recent heart surgery and I just had my gall bladder removed. We were the walking wounded. The morning of the presentations our cab driver “Johnny” refused to take us to the meeting until we bought some cheap souvenirs at his brother’s tourist trap delaying our arrival and stressing us out. “Johnny” also tried to convince us why American men need to have Taiwan girls at night! I’ll never forget that crazy cab driving pimp. When our presentations were finished Bill felt ill and needed to spend a day in the hospital. Afterwards, he was O.K. but tired and I was beat, too. Bill, ever the microbial travel agent, decided we could use a recovery day in Hawaii on the way home. Sounded good to me so while Bill made the airline reservations I contacted some folks at the HI Dept. of Agriculture to give us a nice tour of the pineapples under a pesticide emergency exemption so we could justify the extra day to our bosses when we got back. Don’t know about Bill, but my boss was very skeptical about it.
When he wasn’t on the road doing mysterious international work Bill did an excellent job putting together the microbial guidelines (EU harmonized, of course) and the microbial notification regulations. Those notification regulations have saved lots of time and money for both the regulated industry and the taxpayer.
One time there was a meeting in Annapolis on protein toxicity and testing. This was a very hot topic with GMOs. Naturally, Bill brought his boat down and provided a nice afternoon sail to a bunch of folks from the regulated industry along with some from the anti-GMO groups. It really helped. Bill understood that people need to do more than just work and argue if you are ever going to get any form of consensus.
When he wasn’t traveling or putting regulations together Bill could be counted on to add a little spice to every office occasion, whether wearing blue suede shoes for Elvis’s birthday or maybe a tuxedo for the holiday party.
Bill and I had quite a stretch of time together counting both at EPA and socializing post retirement. It was always interesting and lots of fun. Bon Voyage old friend.
Phil Hutton
Candy, Dave And April
Bill was one of the kindest, most compassionate, and humble men we have known. We were friends with Bill for over 35 years, with 25 years at EPA. He was an expert in his field and had a strong commitment towards environmental and public health protection. With his scientific expertise, he was an inspirational problem solver. He conceptualized the entire Insect Repellent Project and Product Performance Rule at EPA, to protect the public from Lyme disease. He was a star for EPA and us as a family. We want to express our heartfelt sympathy to Sue, Geoff, Karl, and Noon and their grand children. Love, Candy, Dave and April.
Brad Knopf
Bill was a most excellent person. He was brilliant, big hearted, funny and dedicated to helping preserve and protect our environment. We have lost, but were privileged to have among us such a fine man.
Chris And Jeannine
Sent a Serene Retreat to the Schneider family.
Janet Andersen
Bill was a great scientist, friend, sailor, and human being! Bill had a long professional dedication to safer pest control methods. As a founding member of the Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division, Bill contributed to both the science and policies needed to bring more of these products to the public. He helped us succeed beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
Bill had a wonderful sense of humor. I will never forget his laugh and that he wore blue suede shoes to our Elvis Presley parties. He was always supportive of all of his colleagues and continued to keep in touch with his colleagues after his retirement. Some of my favorite memories of Bill will be the great photos he shared on Facebook of walks with his dog. Bill was a gentle soul that will certainly be missed.