91 years old, died Friday, May 3, 2013 in Santa Barbara after a long and memorable life.
He was born on the kitchen floor December 1, 1921 in Queens, New York. Alfred, or “Al” as he was known, spent his youth in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. There he spent many hours playing ball in the streets, racing his bicycle to Coney Island to hang out with friends, attending Boy Scouts, going to the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Ebbets Field as part of the “Knothole Gang” and attending school, graduating from Boys High.
While going to Brooklyn College, World War II broke out and Al was drafted, serving in the European Theater as Private, US Army, 6th Engineers Special Brigade, 203rd Battalion. He was involved in the invasion of Normandy at Omaha Beach, second wave, Ardennes campaign “Battle of the Bulge”, and campaigns in Central Europe, Northern France, and the Rhineland.
After the war he enrolled in the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, graduating March 15, 1948. Along with his father, a pioneer chiropractor in New York, his brothers, brother and sister-in-law, and later children and other relatives, he was a member of what became the largest chiropractic family in the world with over 70 members in the profession. His love and enthusiasm for his profession continued up until the end of his life, and many patients and family members were inspired by his nearly 40 years of practice both in New York and California.
While in Davenport, he met the love of his life, Jeanne (McQuillen) Bauer, a young widow and Iowa native who happened to be the landlady’s daughter. It was love at first sight and Al proposed on their first date. After knowing each other for only two months, Al and Jeanne got married on March 1, 1947 just before he graduated and went on to have a blessed and happy 60 years of marriage.
The young couple then moved back to New York City and children soon followed, Alan followed by Anne. Al made sure that family was important and every week visits to the various parks with his kids and with other extended members of the family occurred. Grandpa and Grandma’s place were always on the agenda along with the homes of his brothers and sister. He shared his curiosity in all things by taking the family to the beach, water-skiing, going on picnics with softball or other games, attending museums, watching parades, collecting stamps, gardening, site-seeing and just whatever excited his mind.
In 1957 they packed up the family and drove across the country to start a new life in Santa Barbara. It was there that their third child, Carol, was born.
Al and Jeanne were long time members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Santa Barbara and were deeply involved in its mission including building committees, Lutheran Brotherhood, Sunday School, El Camino Pines Church Camp and serving as ministerial assistants. Many close friendships developed over the years from this association.
Al had a long and full retirement which included many years of tennis, dance club, valued membership in the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge (31 years), and travels to far and near locations, especially China and Europe and all 50 states of the USA. He was especially enthusiastic about his grandchildren and made it a point to be involved with their lives.
Al was preceded in death by his wife Jeanne, father, Dr. Frederick Schroeder of Brooklyn, NY and mother Olivia Augusta (Sjostrom) from the little island of Hasslo, Sweden, brothers Frederick (who died as a toddler), Richard of Fresno, CA and Robert, of Santa Barbara and sister Marion, of Santa Barbara and New York. He is survived by his son Alan (Kelsay), and daughters Anne Schroeder and Carol Hamby along with his grandchildren Kirsten Schroeder, Erika Schroeder, Megan Hamby, Spencer Hamby, Alison Hamby, Jessica Hamby and Derek de Mornay.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 909 N.La Cumbre Rd. Santa Barbara, California at 11am on Saturday, June 22, 2013.
Alfred, your kindness and love along with your stories will be remembered by all touched by your life. We love you and miss you.
