Joan and Dr. William Schneider '63PS '91PH
William J. Schneider, MD, was a big believer in education and particularly passionate about his time in medical school. His wife, Joan Schneider, explains about her late husband: “He loved being at Columbia. It was the most memorable part of his career. The fact that he was there (at VP&S) for medical school was thrilling. He loved to learn, loved his professors and city life, and he made a lot of good friends.”
Dr. Schneider earned his MD and MPH from Columbia University and through his academic appointments at several medical schools instructed and mentored countless medical students. He went on to serve as Medical Director and Managing Director for Healthcare Services at JP Morgan Chase from which he retired in 2001. He authored several books and articles and immediately after 9/11 served as a volunteer, examining police officers and firefighters.
Dr. Schneider’s love and commitment for VP&S continued long after he graduated. In 2009, after learning about the Legacy Challenge supporting scholarships, he immediately set up a bequest intention. Years later when given the opportunity to carry on her husband’s legacy, Mrs. Schneider made a second bequest intention to VP&S to support the endowed scholarship program, noting that her husband would have been thrilled to know that students with need now will have an opportunity to graduate debt-free. “I know this was important to him so it gives me great pleasure to help people who need help and who will go on to help other people but might not have been able to do so without this monetary support.” She further noted: “He just cared for other people. He was an amazing man. He was just low-key. The recognition was not important. The doing was important.”
To learn how you can create an opportunity for tomorrow’s doctors with a planned gift, please contact:
Laura Tenenbaum
Senior Director of Development
212.342.2108