Name: Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers
Address: Red Bluff, CA

Al & I were friends at Rosary H S.  We played golf often and were on the schools baseball team. Al’s toboggan was usually parked in a snow bank at the front of my house for most of the winter. Learned of his passing by accident and, when I read all the nice things people said about Al, I could only think... of course. RIP Al and my belated condolences to the family. 

As a seasonal hire I was at the lower (bottom) of the GS scale.  Al was on the upper end. Yet, Al never used that rank as a source of force or compulsion.  He used his position as a place of instruction and mentoring.  He was truly interested in my "seasonal" success.

I spent five seasons at Lassen. My friendship with Al extended well beyond those years. Over the ensuing years he met my spouse, our daughters, and always welcomed me into his office and life, with undaunting interest...with that genuine, well-groomed smile and impeccable professionalism.

I will say that it did not sit well with Al when the North defeated the South on the court. I played on the North.  I think Mineral should name an athletic field for him.

My vocation as a  clergyman was in part shaped by my mentors. Al was a primary mentor.

Rev. Timothy C. Cartwright, Emeritus 

Very sorry to hear of Al's passing.  He was one of the good guys - all heart and a kick to work with and be around.  Lots of memories from our time together at Lassen in the early/mid 70's.   Other than work and sports tales, I have two memories that still linger.  First, being unable to get Al's full attention in the office until he had located that moment's missing element of his smoking ensemble - either pipe, tobacco pouch, tamper, cleaner or matches.  The second being, for the first year after their move from Death Valley,  Al and Mary's concerted family effort to reduce the area deer herd significantly through a number of collisions with both family and government vehicles. Our condolences to the family.

Andy Ringgold

Deepest sympathy to Mary and the family.  Al was my supervisor, friend, and frequent softball teammate during my eleven years as Manzanita Lake District Ranger.  Over the years, we shared many experiences together with Larry Feser, Al Denniston, Bill Stephenson, and many others.  This was a very rich period in my life, both professionally and personally.  I'm left with warm memories of Al for his sound counsel and unfailing good humor.

Blessings,

Jim   

Many memories of Al and Mary in Death Valley.  A classic morning was Mary on the Park radio system reminding Al as he drove to work that his lunch was on the roof of the patrol wagon.   Al had a basketball court named for him in Death Valley also.  While the Superintendent was away, Al convinced a local contractor to pave an outside area . No plans, no approval, no government red tape.
Always at the ready, Al showed up at Stovepipe Wells for a nighttime stakeout for an arson suspect, complete with ice chest, folding lawn chair and daily newspaper.  Working with Al was a memorable, never boring experience, much appreciated, never to be forgotten.

Al and Mary were our cherished neighbors for 30 years! Al will be remembered for his caring heart, his strong opinions, and his willingness to help out his neighbors! He often talked of his love for his children and his beautiful wife, Mary. During the Spring and Summer months we would get a visit weekly from Al. He would show up at his neighbors’s front doors, with fresh plums and vegetables that he grew in his back yard. We appreciated and enjoyed eating his weekly gifts. Al grew the most beautiful pink roses and would always allow Dale and I to pick whatever we needed. He was generous and cared for his Juanita Court Community.  We were fortunate to have known Al, and will miss him as a neighbor, and a great friend !

I remember celebrating my 21st  Birthday on that baseball field, with all my family and Mineral friends and yes, Al was there there. I am so saddened to hear of the news of him passing. My prayers to Mary, Shawn, Scott, Kurt, Sabrina and family .





I worked for Al at both Death Valley and Lassen Volcanic NP's.  Al was not your typical supervisor.  He treated you as friend and part of his family.  He had a genuine interest in your well being and often asked how things were going.  At get-togethers he and Mary took you under their wings.  Being invited to dinner at Al and Mary's was always something to look forward to.  Loosing Al is a great loss.  And Mary, bless her heart, is still with us.  May she carry on and continue Al and her legacy.

Condolences to the Schneider Family from the Schmitz Family.  My memories are all from Mercy High School days.   I remember Mr. Schneider as kind, sincere, honest and a man of integrity.  Coincidentally, those are the same traits I remember about his kids!     You were blessed to have him in your lives.

P.S.  Loved the old family pictures.


Al was the Chief Ranger at Lassen National Park when I arrived there as a young ranger in the early 1980’s. He always did his best to support we rangers, and tried to insulate us from the ups and downs of the greater government bureaucracy. It was not until I became a Chief Ranger some years later that I fully realized what a balancing act that was. I knew he was passionate about his kids. Again, it was not until I became a parent some years later that I fully appreciated what a commitment that was. I regularly kidded him about his passion for both basketball and for Syracuse—saying, “Al, nobody cares and those things!” Years later, when my daughter became passionate about basketball, was accepted at Syracuse, and then made it onto the Syracuse Women’s Basketball team, I called Al to laugh at the irony and about how our paths had merged again. What followed was several years of lovely post-game calls and shared excitement about the games and the teams. Al was a patient, kind, and decent man. He served his family, he served his community, and he served his country. He made a difference.

My twin sonsScott and Sean were so sad to hear of the passing of coach Schneider. Teen boys don't always appreciate their coaches or teachers but they so enjoyed playing for him and joking with him.
We were so amazed at his background of which we were unaware.
So from the Benoit family including Ty, Bob, Sean and Scott our admiration for a fine human being

I last saw Al in the spring of 2017.  It was a typical visit, we talked about sports:  football, tennis, golf and his love of coaching basketball.  We toured his yard on Juanita Court where he showed off his roses and the ripening tomatoes and zucchinis in his garden.  Of course we reminisced about Lassen Park and the challenges of being the “Chief.”  He glossed over jobs we performed and the “glamorous” aspects of wearing the uniform, the badge, the flat hat! What he preferred to remember were the people he worked with and their families that make up the NPS community that made him smile and keep on rangering for 33 years.  I've often been told that it was impossible to be a friend to employees you supervised.  Al proved that it was not only possible but fitting to be supportive, compassionate, almost fatherly.... Thanks Al, for being all of those things.

Well done good and faithful servant. You influenced so many lives. Good job coach. 

We were saddened to hear of Al’s passing this morning.  I aspired to make rangering a career when I first met Al at Lassen Volcanic National Park.  At Lassen I worked as a student intern during my senior year at Chico State, as a seasonal ranger, and then in my first permanent NPS ranger position in 1984.  Had it not been for Al’s support, my 40-year NPS career might have had a different trajectory, or may not have happened at all.  As a young ranger I occasionally found myself upstairs at Lassen’s Headquarters, in Al’s office, because of some ill-conceived idea I had, or a rookie mistake I had made.  Although I was expecting it, he never chewed me out.  Instead, Al in his fatherly way, would always impart some sage advice, sprinkled with some good humor.  I also played in many games at Schneider Field in Mineral, and fondly remember Al coaching us in the high stakes annual ranger versus maintenance games.  Those were the days.  I will always remember Al as a special man, with a caring and kind soul.  Our heart goes out to Mary and all of Al’s family and friends.

Bob and Stacey Love
Tucson, Arizona

I was an NPS Ranger working directly for Al Schneider way back in the dim 1980's.  At that time I was struggling with my career.  Al played a pivotal role with his patience, down to earth wisdom and tolerance, truly helping me to a life goal pursuing higher education. From the rest of the memories given here, I can see now that what I received from him made me just one of an uncountable many.  Surely he has earned both peace and glory. His family must be so proud.

Our hearts go out to all of you in the passing of Al. We were extremely blessed to know Al while we lived and worked in Lassen Volcanic National Park. We have continued to stay in touch with Al and Mary through the exchange of Christmas letters every year! We also visited with them long after we transferred to a park across the country and enjoyed dinner at their house! Tom's parents and our 2 teenage sons were with us and Al gave special attention to each of us! Al and Mary were the most warm and welcoming host and hostess! Al as Chief Ranger was professional and caring beyond comprehension. He was both a boss and a friend, together in one very special man!! In our 35 years with NPS Al is the one who touched us in the most special and heartwarming ways! Sometimes while Tom was at work, I would have office visits with Al in which we had great conversations! One in particular involved Tom being sent to  an out of state training course that had the very strong potential of overlapping the birth of our first son, who we were adopting! I was very concerned, but  Al assured me that Tom would be back in time. Sure enough, our baby was born a week after Tom returned!! How did Al know?! We will always have this and many more fond memories of Al!  Much love and many prayers for Mary and family, Gail and Tom Nash 

I have had the honor of getting to see Al around town after graduating. He was always interested in my life and how things were going. He was always ready to talk sports mostly football with me. I will miss getting to chat with him. All of the guys who played for him can attest to his patience with us kids. He was a landmark at Mercy and in our community. Thanks for everything Al.

Al Schneider:  Truly one of the all-time great human beings. 

Reading his obituary was enlightening. I knew Al for my 4 years of high school while at Mercy...but I knew nothing of his life other than that he was Mercy’s JV boys basketball coach. 

I was unaware that he was an alumnus of Syracuse University...or that he possessed a distinguished 33-year career with the National Park Service. I also knew nothing of his wife and children - in fact, I think I just sort of assumed that he might not even have much family...

...but that was only because Al was so generous with his time and care. He was a fixture at Mercy that extended well beyond the junior varsity basketball world. I remember seeing him at dozens of other Mercy events, for both athletics and academics, as well! 

I also remember visiting home during Christmas/winter breaks and being able to count on Al calling my parents’ landline in an attempt at reaching me so that he could invite me to Mercy’s alumni basketball game - and this was roughly 10 years after I had graduated! 

The fact that he even remembered me was one of the many things that made Al so dang special. Al had seen a few thousand students come before me and a few thousand after...yet he still took the time and care to call and invite me to Mercy High School functions (and I am positive that I am just one of so many that he did this for). 

Every time I saw him his genuine love and happiness shone through. Al truly was an unbelievably great man. To learn that Mercy’s court/floor was named after Al Schneider is so touching...and so deserved. I hope his family & loved ones know how greatly loved and appreciated he was and always will be (however I have a strong feeling that they know better than anyone!).


Proud to be one of the hundreds on young men whose lives were shaped by Coach Al in our young adolescent years. You’ll be greatly missed and you left a lasting legacy of this earth. Rest In Peace, Coach!

Coach Al was a good man! He was my basketball coach at Mercy High for my 2 JV years. He pushed us hard and demanded a lot! Seeing this today hits me hard and instantly reminds me of how much love and respect I have for Coach Al. I am deeply saddened! 

Much love to all of Coach Al’s family and friends. 

Cheers 

Al was the sweetest and most patient man, a true gentleman and a great mentor. He will truly be missed by a great number of people and my entire family. Our condolences to your whole family. 

Lassen House Senior Living - Employee recognition in honor of Al Schneider                                                   - 705 Luther Road, Red Bluff, CA 96080

OBITUARY

Albert Carl Schneider

28 September, 1931 – 12 August, 2020

Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers

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