Do you know anyone who has a birth certificate on which the place of birth is listed as West Hammond (Calumet City's earlier name)? I certainly do and this Cal City legend will be celebrating a birthday soon.
Bob Schneider Sr., or "Pops" or "Baldo," depending on who you are and how well you know him, will be turning 90 at the end of this month.
I came to know Pops by teaching his grandchildren at St. Victor School in Calumet City. Pops was the kind of grandfather who was at the important events of his grandkids' lives as they went through their school years. And since all seven of his grandchildren went to St. Victor, I ran into him a bunch.
As I became friends with his family, I came to know and appreciate Bob Schneider as a true original; a man dedicated to his community, its schools, and his church. He's a gregarious character with an amazing gift of gab and a heart of gold. And he's been a bon vivant, man about town, for almost as long as there's been a town.
Bob spent years working for Alpert's (remember?). I remember the Alpert's on Burnham Avenue. Bob sold shoes there, but he started at the original Alpert's on 154th Place (I don't remember that!).
Bob worked for TF North at about the time his elder son, Bob Jr., began teaching there. He ended up retiring as the head of building and grounds for our local high school. Before that, he was on the School Board of District 215. He has his name on a plaque in one wing of the complex, while on another plaque in the newest addition to the school, so does his son, Hank, who recently ended two terms on that same School Board.
Pops used to come watch his sons and me and other friends play softball in the old Lansing church league. This league lasted for a decade or so starting back in the late ‘70s. Pops would kibitz and criticize our play. He quickly worked his way into the lineup as our pitcher. He befuddled many with his advanced age, his advanced chatter, and his devastating "smoke ball" - a pitch he delivered with a fired up stogie clenched firmly between his teeth. (The columnist does not endorse the use of this pitch for younger (under 60) softball players.) Pops has three children. Bob Jr. was a longtime teacher and administrator at TF North and he retired as the superintendent of Hoover- Schrum District 157.
His daughter, Kathy "Keke" Halloran, works in data processing and is a sacristan at St. Victor Church. His son, Hank, is in sales and was a two-term District 215 board member. His grandchildren are school superintendents, teachers, human resources workers, and the like, dedicated like their grandfather and their parents, to the service of others.
Happy birthday, Pops. Thanks for being the gregarious, irascible, dedicated, generous person you are. And thanks for being an inspiration for those of us who keep moving higher on that age ladder. You certainly are a Cal City legend.
TRIVIA NITE OUT -
St. Victor is having its 10th Trivia Nite Out this Saturday. Doors of the St. Victor Church Hall will open at 6:30 p.m. and the game begins at 7:30 p.m. Bring snacks. We will have one food item and beverages - pop, beer, and wine - for sale. It is a great time. Proceeds will benefit the church.
And by the way, Pops Schneider, patriarch of the four-time champion Schneider team, will be there too! Thanks for reading.
The opinions are solely those of the writer. George Grenchik is a longtime Calumet City resident and instructor at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond.
