Retiree George Schneider won’t be found in a rocking chair. Schneider is too involved in helping his town and its residents. In his 14 years living in Santee, Schneider has given much of himself to his community, even in the face of serious illness.

“If good things happen to you as they did to me, you should give back,” Schneider said. “There is tremendous satisfaction in volunteering.” His lifelong background of volunteer service is proof of his conviction.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Schneider is the son of parents who immigrated from Germany.

“My father built bomb sites used in World War II. The first ones were made by hand, and he received numerous awards for his contributions,” Schneider said.

He and his family moved to Long Island, where he received his education, and he entered the Navy in 1953 during the Korean War. After his schooling in the military, Schneider was assigned to an aircraft carrier.

“The first day on ship off Norfolk, Va., we hit a hurricane with 100-foot waves,” he said. “Nine sailors were killed, and there was several million dollars worth of damage. We drifted from North Carolina to Maine.”

Schneider was stationed all over Europe, where he worked as a cryptologist. He also received a highly sensitive assignment in Bermuda, and was privileged to meet President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

After leaving the Navy in 1957, Schneider received a political appointment as postmaster by Eisenhower, which was confirmed by the Senate.

“I was one of the youngest postmasters ever appointed,” he noted. Schneider’s volunteer background was a strong factor in his appointment. “The post office was specifically looking for people who were active in their communities,” he said.

Schneider’s commitment to volunteer service is extensive and varied. He has served as a Civil Defense chairman, American Red Cross disaster chairman and Boy Scouts of America fund-raiser. In Locust Valley, Long Island, Schneider chaired the Apple Festival for the Mill Neck School for the Deaf.

“This event, which ran for two weekends, had 450 volunteers. One year we raised $980,000 for the school,” Schneider said.

In addition to his membership and service in volunteer organizations, Schneider was also active in professional groups. His first wife of 42 years died of cancer in 1998. He is the father of two children and the grandfather of five.

A resident of the Santee Cooper Resort, Schneider remains active in its homeowners’ association.

He frequently traveled to New York doing arbitration for the post office. Santee travel agent Joanie Schneider handled his travel arrangement, and before long the business relationship between the couple led to romance and marriage. The Schneiders will celebrate their sixth anniversary in June.

Joanie Schneider, also an active community volunteer, was named Santee coordinator of tourism and special events in 2000. Her husband continues to volunteer his time and expertise for the Santee Development Association, Santee Lions Club, charity golf tournaments, the Santee Fire Department, church events and the Christmas food drive at the Resort.

“We collected over $800 last year and five truckloads of food for Christmas for the needy,” Schneider said. He also served as chairman of Santee’s Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund which raised about $9,000.

Actively involved in town events, Schneider is the chairman of the Taste of Santee and also volunteers at the Easter Egg Hunt and Maize Days Festival. He was the cook for a joint Business After Hours held by the Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Orangeburg Chamber of Commerce at the Santee Cultural Arts & Visitors Center.

Three years ago, Schneider, who has diabetes, became seriously ill.

“I lost my right leg below the knee,” he said. But his spirit remains high, and he looks toward the future. “I’ve got to deal with what the Lord has given me,” Schneider said, with his typically positive attitude. Indeed, shortly after his surgery, Schneider was back in action, driving a golf cart at the Crappie U.S.A. Fishing Tournament.

In December 2005, Schneider was awarded the William C. Irish Award by Mayor Silas Seabrooks for his service and dedication to the town of Santee. It is the highest citizen award given by the town to a special volunteer.

Schneider’s daughter, Carol, and her husband, Oreste, are following in Schneider’s volunteerism footsteps. They will entertain at a free benefit concert for Santee’s new library and the Santee Presbyterian Church on May 7.

Schneider continues to be a champion of volunteerism.

“Let’s do together what we can’t do alone,” he said. “If we each gave half an hour a year, we could do amazing things,”

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