In loving memory of Eddie Schneller

Eddie Schneller was smart, creative, knew how to engage people in conversation, had a deep love of history, was passionate about politics and was a proud Democrat.  Most importantly, he was a son, brother, husband, father, and uncle.  He loved his family deeply.  For many of us, he was a friend whom we came to know during the most formative years of our lives, as students of the Theatre Arts Department of the State University of New York at Fredonia in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s


After college, Eddie enjoyed a multi-faceted career in the businesses of talent agency representation, international tour manager of dance companies and the New York City Opera. Later, his experiences in travel and his love of history and the arts, led him to the field of education travel, where he created itineraries for international and national student programs.  He also taught for two years in a High School theatre program, before moving on to what became his greatest passion, telling the story of New York City as a licensed tour guide.  Throughout these years he was married to his wife Vanessa for two decades and was the proud father of Charlie age 9 and Henry age 4.


Almost five years ago, Eddie suffered the first of several strokes.  These along with other health problems took a tremendous toll on him and his family.  His increasingly weakening body, and more recently economic hardships, brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, made for some significantly hard times for Eddie and his family.  Despite his best efforts to overcome the obstacles, Eddie suddenly passed this week from what would seem to be another stroke.


We, his friends of so many years are devastated by the loss of a friend who was a force of life, a brilliant mind and as one of his former professors referred to him, “a sweetheart.”  We are deeply concerned for his children Charlie and Henry as well their Mom, Vanessa, a New York City school teacher and now a single parent.  We hope that our financial efforts can help them to meet both their current needs as well as the challenges of the future. Anything will do, nothing is too small.