Richard Thomas Schumacher
August 23, 1948 ~ October 20, 2014
Born in:
Teaneck, NJ
Resided in:
Lawrenceville, GA
Richard Thomas Schumacher, a.k.a.Coach Schu, age 66, of Lawrenceville, GA passed away the evening of Monday, October 20, 2014 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was raised in Suffern, NY where he was recently inducted into the Rockland County Wrestling Hall of Fame. He attended East Stroudsburg State College in PA where he was NCAA National Wrestling Champion in 1970. He coached wrestling at Bucknell University, East Stroudsburg University, Collins Hill HS, and most recently at Meadowcreek HS, where he took a program in shambles and turned it into a powerhouse. As Teacher and Coach he made a huge impact on his students' and wrestlers' lives. He was recently inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his loving wife, Karen Schumacher, his children, Ryan Schumacher and Casey Ann Schumacher, stepchildren Kristi Celentano and Michael Celentano, brother, Brian Schumacher, sisters, Loretta Keys and Virginia Schumacher, nieces Jennifer Thomas, Dianna Cooper, and Vanessa Keys, his ex-wife Christine Schumacher, and other dear family and friends too numerous to name.
The viewing will be held at Wages & Sons Funeral Home in Lawrenceville, GA on Friday, October 24 from 2-8pm, with funeral to follow on Saturday, October 25 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Lawrenceville, GA at 10am, where his ashes will later be interred.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Richard Schumacher to the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
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I am truely sadened by the loss of such a wonderful man.
R.I.P., Coach Shu. As a fellow Garden Stater and GCPS employee, both communities have lost a good friend, teacher, coach, and human being. Being a patient w/ pancreatic ailments myself, I feel for what you and your family endured. Free at last. R.I.P.
It is with great sympathy that we send our condolences to Richard Schumacher’s Family. 2Corinthians 1:3, 4 says, “May you have underserved kindness and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father of Tender Mercies and the God of all Comfort”. May you find that comfort and know that Jehovah has provided a beautiful hope for all who have put faith in him (John 5:28, 29). May prayers and peace with friends and family console your heart.
Your Neighbor
We will miss you coach. You were a role model as a mentor, teacher and leader. Thank you for the example you set before us all. I was honored to work with you on the Hill.
I am going to miss you coach.
Coach Schumacher was truly a great man and coach. In his first few years at Meadowcreek, I invited him and his team to attend our tournament. I didn’t know coach before his team came to Clarke Central that Saturday and we immediately clashed on the mat. I was a cocky, arrogant and over bearing coach and tournament host and in no uncertain terms, Coach let me know! By the end of the day, we were pals. He just had a “way” about him that made you listen to him. He talked to me that day, coached me a little, scolded me a little and then actually gave me a big hug, I have never forgotten that day. It was the day that I started listening to others a little more and paying attention to men like Coach S. He changed me as a person and coach that day in a few short hours, I can only imagine what he did for countless numbers of boys that he coached. I am so glad that our paths crossed and I am truly honored to have known such a humble, giving and fantastic man. My condolences go out the Schumacher family. Rest in peace, Coach.
~ Tim Stoudenmire
My sympathy, love and prayers are with the Schumacher family.
My prayers go out to Karen and the Schumacher family.
My thougthts and prayers are with your family, coach. You will be missed.
I offer my sincere condolences to the Shumacher Family. He was a great Coach and Mentor for Meadowcreek athletes and students. His legacy at Meadowcreek will last for generations.
May God bless and comfort you during this time if sorrow.
Sincerely,
Otis C. Lane
A true Coach he took what he had and did the very best you could with it. To watch the transformation of the Meadowcreek program was a testament to Schu and his legacy of love for kids. Schu was a friend, a fierce competitor and always respectful to the end. He told me in a text October 8th he would miss me I have to say it is us that will miss him dearly. My prayers are with the family and as Schu said “the cream will rise to the top”, well it certainly did in Schu’s case.
Respectfully
Phil Daniel