Milton Ernest Schumacher

Milton Ernest Schumacher, of Scituate Rhode Island, passed away on May 28 at the age of 79. Son of Arthur and Amy, brother of Kathy, Russell, Wanda, Val, Loretta, and Lorna, Milt is survived by his wife Phyllis and sons Kris, Erich, and Brad, along with his daughters in law Liza and Arghavan, and grandchildren, Saera, Cameron, James, and Darya. Born to a farming family in Drayton, North Dakota in 1944, Milt grew up helping on the farm from a young age. Life on the farm was a great learning ground, whether it was operating the brake and the clutch so his older brother could drive the truck or climbing to the top of the windmill to go for a ride, adventures abounded. He excelled in school, being a member of the wrestling team, the football team and serving on the student council in high school. Finishing in the top of his class, he earned a scholarship to the University of North Dakota, where he was the president of the engineering club. From there, he left to earn his master’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of Rhode Island where he would meet the love of his life, Phyllis Pella. The couple would go on to marry, have three children, and settle down in an old farmhouse in Scituate Rhode Island that Milt restored and renovated into their dream home. One of his great passions in life was forestry and the land provided him ample opportunity to explore that, establishing a tree farm and milling lumber to use on his various carpentry projects. Eschewing the 9-5, Milt took pride in never having a “real” job. He worked as a carpenter, more concerned with helping those who needed it than building a business. And he worked as a landlord and property manager, more concerned with ensuring his tenants had an affordable place to live than maximizing rental income. Loved by all who were lucky enough to know him, he was an active member of the community. With his church, he was active in community outreach, both as a member of the Genesis community in Providence and later at Trinity Episcopal Church in Scituate, including the Trinity Church food pantry and thrift store. He was a member of the Scituate Lions Club, served as a volunteer fire firefighter, and donated his time to local 4H and Boy Scout programs. He was a member of RIFCO and served as the Rhode Island chair of the American tree farm association. Much of his time was dedicated to preserving our natural forests and ensuring that people would benefit from them for decades to come. Another of Milt’s passions was running, which he discovered later in life. After a back injury left him unable to play basketball in his forties, he fell into running and fell hard. He joined the Rhode Island Road runners and made a group of lifelong friends who would push each other to new achievements. For Milt, that meant running in countless road races and frequently finishing at or near the top of his age group. He participated in races across the country, from the Boston Marathon to the Mount Washington road race to Grandma’s marathon in Minnesota, leaving him with an overflowing shelf of trophies and medals. In addition, he organized and directed charitable and memorial road races, including Running with Bob, in honor of his brother-in-law, and the Scituate Fall Classic for the Trinity food bank. Eight years ago, Milt was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the progression of the disease, his humility, selflessness and positive outlook remained to the end. Always quick with a smile, he continued to take enjoyment from being in nature on long walks with his wife and continued to volunteer at the Trinity food bank. To his loved ones, some solace can come from knowing that Milt died as he took so much joy from in life, walking the woods behind his home. Calling hours will be held at Winfield & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory 571 W Greenville Road in Scituate on Friday evening, August 2nd from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for Milt’s life will be held on Saturday, August 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal church in North Scituate. A collation will be held in Aldrich Hall immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the Trinity Church Food Pantry.

Tributes

Milton Ernest Schumacher

May 28, 2024