Mr. Louis Schneider, 92 formerly a long-time resident of Saratoga Springs, NY and Bennington, VT passed away at The Massry Residence in Albany, NY on January 23, 2024. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 17, 1931, son of the late Simon and Yetta Schneider.

Big Lou as he was affectionately called, was truly loved by his family.  He was married for 70 years to his loving wife, Sandy, who predeceased him by 36 hours. True Love! He is survived by his three children, Dr. Susan Cathcart of Rochester Hills, MI, Howie Schneider and his wife Karen of Littleton, MA and Martin Schneider and his wife Penny of Summerfield, NC and 8 grandchildren, Ryan Cathcart and his wife Jenn Ryan of Reading, MA, Lisa Adamson and her husband Trey of Savannah, GA, Kacey Schneider and her husband Randy White of Yucca Valley, CA, Amy Masica and her husband Brian of Bruce Township, MI, Jason Schneider and his wife Becky of Groton, MA, Lauren Schneider of Charlotte, NC, Danny Schneider and his girlfriend Lindsay Drucker of Norwalk, CT and Katie Schneider and her husband Desmond Lee of New York, NY. In addition, he has 5 great grandchildren, Mookie and Daisy Schneider, Morgan Masica, Jack Adamson, and Ruby Ryan.

He is also survived by his sister Zelda (Al, deceased), sister-in-law Renee (Michael deceased), sister-in-law Fran, and 6 nieces and nephews.

Lou moved around quite a bit, and his personality was larger than life. He had a great sense of humor and could tell the same joke and still get laughs. He was very sociable, and in his last years in Saratoga Springs he would go out for breakfast every day and was well known throughout the town.  He was the pseudo mayor of every place he ever lived as his involvement in both civics and politics was evident by the number of people whose lives he touched.

Lou graduated from Lafayette High School in 1949 and went to City College of New York.  He met his wife Sandy while they were both in college. His education was interrupted as he was drafted into the Army during the Korea Conflict and served 2 years in Army Prosthetics in San Antonio, TX and at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Lou met Sandy in 1952 at a house party with Brooklyn College and City College of New York.  Lou painted his socks on and told Sandy he did that, so he didn't have to wash his socks.  She thought he was "mad" but that began a 71-year relationship which ended with them passing hours apart. Lou and Sandy were married in 1953 and upon leaving the Army, he received his Chemical Engineering degree in 1955 and began a long career in plastics and coiled copper.  His career took him from Long Island, NY to Detroit, MI, finally spending his last working years as the Vice President at Oak Mitsui outside of Bennington, VT.  Upon retiring, Lou and Sandy moved to Saratoga Springs, NY where they have spent the last 23 years.

He became a pilot in 1975 and loved to fly his Cessna 150 all over Southern Vermont and into New York State where he would leave on Saturday morning and hit all the small airports for coffee before returning to Bennington for dinner. He loved to scare his children as the Cesna150 was a 2-seater, and he would take up each grandchild one at a time for a flight.

Lou was an amazing chess player (rumor has it he was one of 15 guys to play Bobby Fisher at once in college). He continued to play chess online with his family just about every day for the past 5 years with very little drop off.

He was an avid reader, and he played lots of cards including pinochle, hearts, and poker. He played racket ball, worked out several times a week, loved to go out to breakfast with his friends, but most of all loved flying his Cessna. And nobody would run the family Passover Sedar every year like he would. He was well known at every family event with the huge video camera on his shoulder capturing the moments.

He was a member of the Lions Club since 1973 (both Bennington and Saratoga Springs) and was a Past King Lion. He was a long-time member of the Jewish War Veterans, Korean War Veterans, the War Museum in Saratoga Springs, and the Knights of Pythias. He was on the Bennington Hospital Board of Trustees for many years. He held several political positions in both Bennington and Saratoga Springs, many times being appointed to help fill a vacancy. He stepped up wherever needed as illustrated when the High School Hockey team in Bennington needed a bus driver, he went out and got his bus driver's license.

We would like to express our gratitude to the staff at The Massry Residence in Albany, NY for their amazing care of Lou. In addition, we would like to also thank the Community Hospice of Albany for their compassion, care and overall support provided to Lou.

Relatives and friends may call from 9-10am on Friday, January 26, 2024 at William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY (518-584-5373). A funeral home service for Lou and Sandra will immediately follow at 10am.

Burial with military honors will take place at 11:30am at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Lou's memory may be made to  Saratoga Lions Club  at P.O. Box 166, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or  The Massry Residence  at 182 Washington Ave Ext. Albany, NY 12203.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.