Schroeder family honored for community service
Howard Schroeder was a highly respected artist who called Lewes home. But his greatest accomplishment may be the six children he raised with his wife Marian.
“They stamped them hard with their values,” said Dennis Forney, who honored the Schroeder family with the Greater Lewes Foundation’s Community Citizenship Award at the group’s annual meeting April 13. “They became an important part of the culture of this greater Lewes area – their love for the outdoors, their reverence for the environment and their sense of artistic worth.”
Schroeder died in 1995. Marian passed in 2000.
They came to Lewes in 1942, when Howard, a private in the U.S. Army, was assigned to Fort Miles. After the war, they remained in Lewes and bought a home on Pilottown Road at auction for $5,000.
“The reason my mother and father decided to stay in Lewes was the quality of life,” said their son John. “Rather than go back to New York City, where they were from, Dad would try to carry on a career as an artist.”
Howard and Marian opened The Art Age shop in the ocean block of Rehoboth Avenue, selling gifts, art supplies and original Schroeder paintings. Howard also traveled across the region to give art lessons. Whatever paid the bills.
In time, Howard’s reputation blossomed and he won several prestigious awards. In 1987, he was featured on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt.
“It was recognizing this artist, this community and the symbiotic relationship that was good for everyone,” Forney said.
Howard and Marian passed the sense of community and civic pride down to their children.
Gail, the oldest, worked for the Red Cross in Hawaii before returning home to work for Head Start. She then made jewelry and incorporated pieces of her father’s artwork into her pieces. She died in 2004.
Stephen earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from MIT, then worked with the Apollo program to design lunar landing devices. After that, he attended Harvard Law School and then practiced for many years. While at Harvard, he was chosen to play on the U.S. National Lacrosse team and traveled Europe playing lacrosse.
Howard Jr. served in the Navy for six years. He and his wife won many national tennis tournaments. He, too, followed in the family footsteps and embraced art, becoming a talented wood sculpturist.
Rob was a biology teacher for many years at Cape Henlopen High School, where he was also a football and lacrosse coach. Since retirement, he’s become passionate about Cape Henlopen State Park and birding.
John spent 34 years in the banking business and was one of the original directors of the YMCA. He’s was a state representative for 14 years and championed open space. Among his accomplishments is securing $10 million in the state budget every year for open space. He was also instrumental in acquiring the land around Wolfe Neck and what is now the Junction and Breakwater Trail.
Carole’s local fame came early in 1970, when she was a senior at Cape Henlopen High School. She was part of a group of students who left school to stand in front of bulldozers that were set to knock down the dunes in Cape Henlopen State Park. Her efforts fell in line with the Schroeder family’s love for the environment.
Most of the Schroeder siblings were in attendance to receive the award at the Lewes Public Library, and they were joined by the extended Schroeder family.
Rob was honored his family was chosen as this year’s recipient.
“This community has incredible people, entities, nonprofits and youth that are involved in service,” he said. “It is a tribute to the community itself and this community’s leaders that you have this award to recognize and honor those kinds of people.”
