Personal Histories

Robert F. Schenz ENS

Dr. Robert F. Schenz was born on 1 June 1922 in Buchtel, Ohio. He graduated from Buchtel High School in 1940 and began attending Ohio University. He met his future wife Marian Abram prior to college, but they both graduated from OU. Prior to entering WWII, he also attended Northwestern University where Bob furthered his engineering background and began officer training before being called to duty in the War.

After the War he remained in the Los Angeles area and began a long career in the field of Education. He earned both his Masters and PhD degrees from UCLA and soon was appointed the youngest Principal of Adult Education in the history of the Los Angeles Unified City School District. He was an active community and civic leader, President of his Kiwanis organization and many other local service organizations. He worked for the Los Angeles Unified City School District and Board of Education in the Adult Education field for over 33 years before retiring to Rancho Santa Fe, CA in 1981. During his education years he held various positions in national education organizations and was elected President of the National Association of Principals of Adult Education.

He proudly served his country in WWII as an Ensign about the USS Hadley. He continuing to serve in the Naval Reserve after the war, until retiring as a full Lieutenant from the service in 1982. He was always proud of his naval service and remained connected with the crew of his record-breaking Destroyer, the Hadley. His retirement years allowed him to re-focus on his love of golf. He joined The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe as a Charter Member in 1989. He formed several Silver Senior leagues in the north county golfing community and was active in expanding the league to many clubs in the area.

In 2000, Bob and Marian were hit by a drunk driver in a terrible car accident that claimed Marian’s life, curtailed his ability to play golf, and resulted in unending bone, internal injury, and infection problems. Despite these issues, he remained active in running many of the golf programs for The Farms.

He passed away in a San Diego Hospital on 12 September 2005. He is survived by his son, Clark and daughter, Jacquie in north county San Diego. His four grandchildren, Lee and Anthony Sanudo and Lindsay and Kendall Schenz, are all pursuing their college educations.