In Memory of Tom Schatz

After an incredibly strong four-and-a-half-year battle against cancer, Tom Schatz passed away on January 2, 2022 at age 55. Many friends and family have been wondering what they can do to help and support the Schatz family. After weeks of deliberating over whether or not to set this page up, Tom's wife Caren realized it’s ok to accept the offers from others to help financially. This fund will go towards offsetting medical bills, mortuary and service expenses.

Here is a brief summary for those who do not know the story. The summer of 2017 brought crushing news that Tom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Advanced Rectal Cancer. His subsequent cancer journey meant undergoing multiple treatments including 12 rounds of aggressive chemotherapy infusions, aggressive long term radiation, three major surgeries involving removal of 2/3 of his liver and ultimately a permanent colostomy. Additional treatments continued in the coming years that included a Stanford clinical trial for a unique and long term personal cancer vaccine regimen, return to chemotherapy, return to further radiation and proton therapy in metastasized areas. These treatments occurred at three top Cancer Centers: Gene Upshaw Memorial Cancer Center, Stanford Medicine and hospital, and California Protons. Before the shocking news of cancer found on Tom’s initial colonoscopy, he was in top fitness as he prepared to compete again in his favorite sport of water polo with his Men’s Masters Team. The plan was to regroup with his old teammates that he had previously competed with at UC, San Diego.

Caren will be returning to work mid-February while the kids (Callie, age 14 and Clay, age 11) have now returned to school and their favorite activities. The Schatz family is most appreciative of the overwhelming amount of prayer, love and support of their family, friends, coworkers, and community. The generosity of bringing meals and groceries, driving the kids to school and their activities, removing major amounts of snow on the driveway, and offering to do anything they can, especially over the past six months, has been so greatly appreciated.

Your contribution towards the Schatz family would be a tremendous help towards their current outstanding expenses.

Since Tom was an alumni of the UCSD Men’s Water Polo Team and he had considered a donation in the past, a portion of this fund will be donated to the Team.