Obituary of Harvey W. Schadler

Harvey Walter Schadler of Niskayuna, NY, died on November 30, 2014, at the Hospice Inn, Saint Peter's Hospital, Albany, NY, at age 83. Harvey was born on January 4, 1931, in Cincinnati, OH, to the late Harvey George Schadler and Ida Beinert Schadler. After graduating from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati in 1949, Harvey attended Cornell University as a John McMullen Scholar and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in physical metallurgy in 1954. While at Cornell, Harvey was a member of Tau Beta Pi and Quill and Dagger. Harvey received a Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering from Purdue University in 1957, and received that university's Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 1992. Harvey's advice to students upon receiving that award: "Work hard and learn all you can. Whatever you choose to do, dedicate yourself to it, involve yourself in it fully, and make sure that you keep a broad perspective on what is going on in the world. Think about the whole problem . . . not just the narrow field in which you were trained. You can't just stick to your own thing and make a [real] contribution." While at Cornell, Harvey met Margaret Eleanor Horsfall of Hamden, CT, daughter of James Gordon Horsfall and Sue Belle Overton Horsfall. Harvey and Margaret married in New Haven, CT, on August 28, 1954. The Schadlers moved to Schenectady, NY, in 1957, where Harvey worked at the General Electric Corporate Research and Development Center. Harvey held many positions at the center and retired in 1996 as a Technical Director. At the research center, Harvey "created an environment that encourages new ideas, risk taking, effective communication, teamwork, and technical excellence." Harvey was a Fellow of ASM International an elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 1991. Harvey was active in the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, NY, as an elder on the Consistory and for 35 years as a member of the church choir. He donated his time to many other organizations, most recently on the Board of Directors of the Lake George Land Conservancy. But at heart, Harvey was a builder and spent many hours constructing furniture, moving rocks, and building a camp for the extended family on Lake George. Harvey is survived by his wife, Margaret; sister, Janet Schadler Welch; children, Janet Schadler, Edward (Ted) Schadler (married to Deirdre Fay Quinn Schadler of Baltimore), and Linda Feist (married to Thomas Feist of Pittsburgh); sister-in-law Anne Horsfall Thomas and brother-in-law (and Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity brother) David Alden Thomas; and four grandchildren: Edward Feist, Annabelle Feist, Rory Schadler, and Sophie Schadler. We will remember Harvey best as a loving husband, father, and friend. He was generous, a wonderful communicator with time always to listen to a concern, counsel a tough choice, or chat with a stranger at the gas station, barbershop, or airport. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on December 6, 2014, at First Reformed Church, 8 North Church Street, Schenectady. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lake George Land Conservancy, 4905 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing, NY, 12814, or First Reformed Church.