Schumacher remembered for supporting children

Larry Schumacher was known as a man who would do what was needed to help the children of East Orange enjoy their young years. He did it, though, without seeking the spotlight.
Mr. Schumacher, East Orange’s director of recreation since 1998, died Saturday of pancreatic cancer, his family and the Recreation Department announced.
A viewing for Mr. Schumacher is scheduled to Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. inside St. Paul AME Church, 15 Sanford St. The funeral service is planned for Saturday at 10 a.m., also at St. Paul.
Born in Scotland Neck, N.C., Mr. Schumacher moved to East Orange early in his childhood and attended Stockton and Columbian elementary schools. He later graduated from the now-closed Essex Catholic High School, where he was a three-sport letter winner.
One of those sports was football, in which Mr. Schumacher attracted much interest. Out of approximately 60 schools which recruited him, Mr. Schumacher decided to attend the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.
As a linebacker at Notre Dame, Mr. Schumacher gained many honors. His highest was his being named the football program’s first black defensive captain as a senior in 1969.
After he earned his bachelor’s degree in economics, Mr. Schumacher served as a graduate assistant during the 1970 under head coach Ara Parseghian. He later earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology.
Mr. Schumacher served as the head football coach at three high schools in East Orange. He returned to Essex Catholic and posted a 15-21 record from 1994 to 1997. The Eagles went 7-2 in 1996 and 5-4 in 1997.
Mr. Schumacher became East Orange’s director of the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs in 1998. He was credited with increasing the number of programs available to children as well as exposing them to sports not usually seen in urban cities, such as golf, archery and lacrosse.
“He worked at what he did, and he did it with a passion,” said East Orange Mayor Robert L. Bowser, “and he was modest at how he did it.”

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