Obituary of David E. Schorr

While holding the hand of his beloved wife of 66 years, Colonel David E. Schorr (U.S. Army, Retired) passed away on December 5.   He was born on March 15, 1935 to Brigadier General David Peter and Mrs. Mary B. Schorr.  In 1957, he graduated from the United States Military Academy where he played football for the Black Knights.   After completing basic training and earning his Ranger tab and Jump Wings, he served as an active-duty Infantry Officer for 27 years.     He distinguished himself through exceptional valor and gallantry on the battlefield during two separate combat tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam.   He was awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit (2OLC), the Bronze Star with Valor, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.   Due to extraordinary service later in his career, he also received the Defense Superior Service Medal.   During his active-duty career, he earned a master’s degree in nuclear physics from Tulane University, and he had the great privilege of teaching Math to cadets at the United States Military Academy for three years.

After retiring from active-duty, he accepted a position as a Teacher and the Director of Building and Grounds at the Lawrenceville School where he worked for 16 years.   Students, faculty and school employees alike all affectionately knew him as “The Colonel”.   For many years, he coached the Mighty Big Blue Hamill House football team whose members had the special privilege of benefiting from his lifelong passion for football.  He also served as the Director of the Lawrenceville School Camp in northwest New Jersey where he and Lawrenceville students provided a free multi-week overnight outdoor summer camp experience for underprivileged youth.   Students elected him as an Honorary Member of the Lawrenceville classes of 1988, 1997 and 2002.  The School bestowed upon him the Masters Award in recognition of his excellence as a Math teacher.  The many students who he taught, coached, mentored and inspired all hold fond memories of him.  

On November 29, 1958, the date of the Army/Navy game, he attended the only event that could have ever possibly prevented him from going to the game – his marriage to Margaret Patricia Peck (Patty), the love of his life.  Shortly before his marriage, as a 23 year-old Second Lieutenant assigned to the 101^st Airborne Division, he included the following sentence in a letter to his future parents-in-law: “In the course of twenty-three years, God, in his infinite kindness, has given me gifts of immeasurable value.  I include therein the gifts of my religion, my mother, my father, my sister, and now he has given me the greatest gift of all, your Patty.”  His selfless and unwavering devotion to his faith, Patty and his family was the greatest of the innumerable abundant gifts that he provided throughout the course of his life.

 He is survived by Patty, sister Susan Dillon, daughter Margaret Wilder and her husband Hal Wilder, son Thomas Schorr and his wife Leslie Schorr, son David A. Schorr and his wife Maggie Schorr, son James Schorr and his wife Mary Schorr and many nieces and nephews.  He is also survived by 12 grateful and adoring grandchildren:  Christine Mielke, Shane Mielke, Philip Wilder (children of Margaret and Hal); Matthew Schorr and his wife Amy, Timothy Schorr and his wife Julia Canney, and Kelly Schorr  (children of Leslie and Tom); Carolyn Schorr and her husband Andrew Broedel, Arthur Schorr and Meredith Schorr (children of Maggie and David); David Schorr, Nathan Schorr and Danny Schorr (children of Mary and James).   He is further survived by 6 great grandchildren: Taylor Hanley, Patrick Hanley and David Hanley (children of Christine); Danielle Mielke and Elijah Mielke (children of Shane); and Anthony David Schorr (child of Matthew and Amy).

A funeral Mass offered in thanksgiving for his life will be celebrated at Saint Ann’s Church, 1253 Lawrenceville Rd., at 11 AM on Thursday, December 12.   The family will greet guests beginning at 9:30 AM in the chapel at the back of the church.  The family will also host a luncheon reception in the Abbott Dining Hall at the Lawrenceville School after the Mass.   In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to Army Football or Saint Ann’s parish in Lawrenceville.