Obituary for Alan Michael Schneider
Professor Alan M. Schneider passed away on February 23rd, 2022, five days short of his 97th birthday.
Alan was married for 56 years to his beloved wife, Marjorie Miriam Klitsner Schneider, whom he adored and who preceded him in death in 2005. He is survived by his loving children, David, Mitchell (Susan), Howard, and Sara; by grandchildren Nathan (Claire), Julia (Adam), Michael (Allison), Divya, and Arjun; and great-grandchildren Daniel, Sylvia, and Sydney; by dear friend Paula M. Liska; and by brother Robert (Vi).
Alan was a man of profound and quiet heart, easily touched, readily drawn to chuckle or to tear up. He loved Fantasia as his favorite movie, and would clap his hands with delight at the fun parts. He loved deeply and innocently and was constitutionally unable to see anything but pure intentions in anyone. His unaffected gentlemanliness was unusual, even for a man of his era.
Alan touched the lives of many students in his work teaching at UCSD’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and earned the college Teaching Award twice for the dedication he showed his students even as much as he exemplified traditional aspects of the prototypical absent-minded professor with slide rule and breast pocket full of pens. He was passionately committed to liberal politics and worked tirelessly for environmental causes after co-founding the Clean Air Council of San Diego in the late 1960s.
He was a genuine friend to all of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, to whom he was known as “Oom-pa-pa.” Throughout his long life, he acted without hesitation to do what he thought best for his children and he leaves this planet with all our love.
Alan was married for 56 years to his beloved wife, Marjorie Miriam Klitsner Schneider, whom he adored and who preceded him in death in 2005. He is survived by his loving children, David, Mitchell (Susan), Howard, and Sara; by grandchildren Nathan (Claire), Julia (Adam), Michael (Allison), Divya, and Arjun; and great-grandchildren Daniel, Sylvia, and Sydney; by dear friend Paula M. Liska; and by brother Robert (Vi).
Alan was a man of profound and quiet heart, easily touched, readily drawn to chuckle or to tear up. He loved Fantasia as his favorite movie, and would clap his hands with delight at the fun parts. He loved deeply and innocently and was constitutionally unable to see anything but pure intentions in anyone. His unaffected gentlemanliness was unusual, even for a man of his era.
Alan touched the lives of many students in his work teaching at UCSD’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and earned the college Teaching Award twice for the dedication he showed his students even as much as he exemplified traditional aspects of the prototypical absent-minded professor with slide rule and breast pocket full of pens. He was passionately committed to liberal politics and worked tirelessly for environmental causes after co-founding the Clean Air Council of San Diego in the late 1960s.
He was a genuine friend to all of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, to whom he was known as “Oom-pa-pa.” Throughout his long life, he acted without hesitation to do what he thought best for his children and he leaves this planet with all our love.