George H. Schroder

BALLSTON LAKE, N.Y. —  George H. Schroder, 89, died peacefully on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at Northern Dutchess Hospital, surrounded by his loving family after a long illness. George was born on March 5, 1933, in New York City and was the son of the late Frederick T. and Gertrude (Brennecke) Schroder.

George grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Evander Childs High School. He attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and from there was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Berlin, Germany for two years. Upon returning to Bates, he met his first wife Gail Larocque, he as captain of the basketball team and she as a cheerleader. Together, they had three children Eric J. (Sharon), Stephen P. (Jennifer Hart), and Suzanne E. (Michael Klein). Gail and George raised their family first in the Bronx and then beginning in 1970 in Millerton in Dutchess County, where his family had summered since the 1940s. It was there that they accepted Cynthia “Cindy” (Williams) O’Donnell (Vincent) into their family as one of their own as a foster child.

George had a very successful career in pharmacy and hospital administration, which was inspired by working alongside his father and uncle in the family’s pharmaceutical supply company in the Bronx.

After receiving his pharmacy degree from Fordham University, George worked as a pharmacist at a number of local pharmacies both in New York City and Dutchess County. He later took his career in the direction of hospital pharmacy and became a Director of Pharmacy for New York City hospitals. It was at Queens Hospital where George met his second wife, Kathleen “Kathy” Bryant, who shared his love for pharmacy, management, and leadership. They relocated in the late 1980s to Ballston Lake and welcomed their daughter Emily C. Schroder (Eric Wilson). George worked for Ellis Hospital in Schenectady as its Director of Pharmacy until his retirement in 1995. In retirement, George helped launch Parkwood Wines & Spirits in Clifton Park, New York with his son Eric.

Aside from his career, George enjoyed sports, sailing, traveling, and the arts, particularly music and film, and shopping (yes shopping!).

In addition to his children and their significant others, George leaves behind his three grandchildren Andrew P. Klein, Ethan J. Schroder, and Abigail “Abby” J. Schroder, his loving sister and brother- in-law Barbara and James Reed and their children Brian Reed and Kimberly “Kim” Scharf. His niece Cynthia “Cindi” Reed Samuelson pre-deceased him.

Private interment was on Sept. 11 in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York, where George will rest beside his parents, grandparents, and uncle and aunt.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hudson Valley Hospice — www.hvhospice.org

With confidence, the family has placed their trust in the loving care of the Townley & Wheeler Funeral Home, 21 Midline Road, Ballston Lake, and they encourage you to view and leave messages on George’s Book of Memories at www.TownleyWheelerFH.com