Clyde James Schultz

Clyde was always competitive; from the ever ending Backgammon tournaments with fellow employees to the family dinner table. He was the king of driveway basketball, never failing to elbow any opponent that challenged him and we tested him often. He rocketed badminton birdies off of his girls’ heads, but they always seemed to win. Billiards was his game and we all loved to play against or with him' even when he beat us with his excruciating slow pool shots. He could wipe you off a pool table in seconds if he wanted, but what fun was that? It was better to have his competition hang in there to the last minute! But he was very proud when one of his kids stepped up and beat him. On the other hand, Clyde would sit the breakfast table, sharing a pot of coffee and listen to you for hours. He was one of those guys that made you feel like you’re the most important conversation of his day and the most important person in the room. Clyde will live on in the hearts and minds of people that crossed his path, people he worked with, and friends who enjoyed his genuine conversations. His spirit and love will forever endure with those of us that loved him. Clyde James Schultz passed away peacefully on Friday, December 15th, 2017 in the midst of loved ones. Clyde was born to Herman and Julia Schultz on September 5, 1932 in Chicago, IL. He was preceded in death by his wife Rozsika Carroll. Clyde was a very proud Father to and survived by Matt (Jill), Mark (Karen), Meaveen (Jeff) and Mauraan (Claire) and a wonderful Papa to Laurel Eller, Eliza Schultz, Trevor Schultz, and Tierney Meyer. Clyde graduated from Bradley University and married Rozsika Carroll and raised his family in and around Chicagoland area. His early career was in the emerging electronics design industry with a position at Shure Brothers Stereo and then at Switchcraft from 1963 to 1978, with the last 8 years as Vice President Sales & Marketing. During his time at Switchcraft, Clyde diligently worked on many projects including new “Illuminated” switches to control the lunar lander for the July 1969 NASA mission. Over $100,000 worth of space-grade switches still remain on the moon. He served on the DNR Electronics committee for many years promoting electronics advancement and sharing of technologies in the industry. While working at Switchcraft, he received a Master’s Degree in Business from Northwestern University. Clyde moved on to Belden Wire as a Vice President and then created a successful start-up cable assembly shop, Cablelink Products Company, in North Carolina. Clyde retired in the early 1990’s to Petaluma, CA, where his daughter Meaveen resided and lovingly looked out for him. Clyde was blessed to actively share in his youngest granddaughter Tierney’s childhood through college life. Their bond was beautifully unique. With his pipe clamped firmly between his teeth, Clyde joyously embraced life through his love of family and humor, his artistic and cartoonist abilities, his creative stories, and his friendly competiveness. He was a freelance cartoonist for a Chicago paper and could sketch out fantastic creatures to majestic scenes. He loved to paint and endured the painstaking water-color learning process and created beautiful images, landscapes and abstracts. He also was quite creative with oil and acrylics. During his bout with cancer, Clyde channeled his experience and hope on to the canvas, and at their request, donated his very personal collection to the Northern California Cancer Hospital. He painted many cherished greeting cards under the name of Clyde Crash Cup. Clyde also authored “Schultz Chronicle”, a delightful memoir of his early years from 1935 to 1942. Over the course of 20 years, Clyde designed and hand built a summer house on Jack Lake in Wisconsin, with only the assistance of his wife and four children. During this laborious process, he coined his favorite catch phrase “Damnit to Hell” which covered almost any circumstance. We never quite knew what this expression meant, but when we bottled the Clyde Cabernet wine it was titled “Damnit to Hell Red” in honor of this phrase. Working on the lake house, we all learned the value of completing tasks and taking pride and confidence in our skills. This lake house became the center of many family memories, notably the Clyde’s numerous attempts to become a sailor, which prompted much laughter from the family summer after summer. Clyde was always competitive; from the ever ending Backgammon tournaments with fellow employees to the family dinner table. He was the king of driveway basketball, never failing to elbow any opponent that challenged him and we tested him often. He rocketed badminton birdies off of his girls’ heads, but they always seemed to win. Billiards was his game and we all loved to play against or with him' even when he beat us with his excruciating slow pool shots. He could wipe you off a pool table in seconds if he wanted, but what fun was that? It was better to have his competition hang in there to the last minute! But he was very proud when one of his kids stepped up and beat him. On the other hand, Clyde would sit the breakfast table, sharing a pot of coffee and listen to you for hours. He was one of those guys that made you feel like you’re the most important conversation of his day and the most important person in the room. Clyde will live on in the hearts and minds of people that crossed his path, people he worked with, and friends who enjoyed his genuine conversations. His spirit and love will forever endure with those of us that loved him. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society ‘Clyde Schultz’ fund in his honor. http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Clyde_Schultz