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Eight Bells
John "Russ" Schneider, a retired engineer and Corinthian member since 1940, died last month. There are few members who were not familiar with Russ and his numerous achievements on the water, on the home front, at the Club, and in business.
During his 50 years as a CYC member, Russ participated in many sailing activities including racing championships in International 210s, Sun boats, Bird boats and Islander 36s. He also was owner of a few power boats, the most recent of which is a 46 foot Bertram.
Russ started the J.R. Schneider Company in 1965 in Tiburon, moving as it grew until all of the company’s operations were moved to its manufacturing plant in Benecia in 1975. Russ has been a Belvedere resident since 1943, was assistant fire chief of the Belvedere Volunteer Fire Department and helped establish the Belvedere Sailing Society.
As a merchant seaman and as a sailor from the age of 14, Russ circumnavigated the globe seven times, and could always be counted on to entertain fellow CYC members with colorful tales of his years at sea. During World War II Russ worked for General Electric installing propulsion equipment in new warships launched in Sausalito. He later invented a coolant filtration system that became indispensable in almost every aluminum rolling mill and canning operation in the country the base on which he founded his company.
Russ is survived by his wife Bernice Schneider, daughters Donna Block and Chris Canada of Tiburon, and his son Steve Schneider. Donna Block, Chris Canada, Steve Schneider, grandson Rusty Canada and granddaughter Sarah Schneider are all members of Corinthian Yacht Club. He is also survived by two grandsons, Michael Cardoza of Newport Beach, Captain Christian Cardoza of Hanau, Germany, and a sister Maxine McCaslin of San Francisco.
Richard Coffin was a member of Corinthian since 1988 and a former commodore of the Richardson Bay Yacht Club in Tiburon. A well known story teller and fisherman, he many times combined these talents to keep audiences entertained. Born in Boston, he attended Boston University, moving to San Francisco in 1972 where he became management consultant for Towers Perrin specializing in creating employee benefit packages for large companies.
Jane Ann Rey a Corinthian member for many years, will be remembered for her continuous service on the Race Committee. A fourth generation Californian on both sides of her family who arrived in San Francisco before the 1849 Gold Rush. Her family helped develop Belvedere as a resort and residential community. Her great uncle Joseph Britton was a major stock holder of the Belvedere Land Company before it was acquired by the Allen family. The home she grew up in is located on Golden Gate and is now a registered land mark. Her father was also a member of Corinthian and was one of the first supporters of the Corinthian Harbor Company, purchasing a berth on A-Line in 1960. Ms. Rey held the berth until the Harbor Company’s lease was returned to the Club. |
