John Anthony Schall

John’s passion was always public service. He built over 40 years of deep expertise in a wide range of governmental and social policy fields (healthcare, labor, education, economic development, taxation, and budget policy) developing novel programs, most recently aimed at solving the nation’s looming caregiver crisis.

For the past ten years, John was the CEO of the Caregiver Action Network, a national non-profit dedicated to enabling family caregivers improve the lives of their loved ones. Prior to that, he was Deputy CEO of the Parkinson's Action Network.

John’s extraordinary abilities were evident early in his career, when he achieved prominent positions in US presidential administrations and governmental agencies. He was in the White House Office of Management and Budget from 1984 to 1987 and was a White House Domestic Policy Adviser to President George H.W. Bush and Deputy of the White House Domestic Policy Council from 1989 to 1991.

John was Chief of Staff of the U.S. Department of Labor from 1991 to 1993 and was thought to be one of the youngest person ever to hold such a position in a cabinet level department. In 1994, he narrowly missed his bid for election to Congress from Michigan’s 13th District. Additionally, he served as Legislative Director for then Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL), managed former Senator Bob Dole’s consulting business at the law firm of Alston & Bird, LLP, overseeing contracts with many of America’s top corporations and several foreign countries. He also served as Senator Dole’s Chief Budget Advisor in the Senate Majority Leader’s Office.

John’s focus returned to social policy and advocacy in the 2000’s. He served as Executive Director of the National Business Coalition on E-Commerce and Privacy, comprising 18 of America’s largest corporations. He was proud also of his tenure as Executive Director of the Project on the Advocacy of U.S. Interests Abroad – a bipartisan blue-ribbon commission of 14 former Cabinet-level officials to examine the conduct of U.S. foreign affairs in the 21st century. He was the President and CEO of the National Congress for Community Economic Development, a national trade association representing 3,600 anti-poverty organizations across the country. Later, as Vice President of Jefferson Government Relations (2005 to 2009), he represented health care companies and patient advocacy associations, before moving to the Parkinson’s Action Network and ultimately to the Caregiver Action Network, where he wound up his illustrious career.

Education and lifelong scholarship were part of John’s essence. He earned a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a B.A. with distinction and honors as a Truman Scholar in political science from the University of Michigan. Later, he held roles as Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution, for Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute, and as a Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. John provided expert testimony before Congress, was interviewed by over a hundred U.S. and global media outlets, including the BBC, and authored many articles for national publications.

John was passionate about travel, extensively exploring Europe, Egypt, and Peru. His favorite destinations were always in his beloved Italy. There he could balance his dynamic and profound intellect – believing that the force of the mind is the force of life -- while honoring that part of him that craved just a little of la dolce vita. Theater was another prized diversion for John. He was fond of saying that he had ‘trod the boards of life and stage’ and was especially proud of directing and acting in Sophocles’ Antigone while at Harvard.

John treasured family and friends, who were the core of his life and happiness. Born in Livonia, Michigan on November 13, 1960, the son of Rita J. Schall (who survives him) and Thomas A. Schall (who passed away in 2012), he is also survived by six siblings: Karen, Cynthia, Deborah, Ronald, Thomas, and Robert; very dear friends; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 from 5PM-8PM at Harry J Will Funeral Home in Livonia. John's life will be celebrated with a funeral Mass on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM at St Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 11441 Hubbard, Livonia, Michigan 48150. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to Caregiver Action Network, https://www.caregiveraction.org