Ann Lee Herzog Schneider

Ann Lee (Herzog) Schneider of Portland, Oregon died on November 6, 2019 surrounded by her family. Her death was precipitated by a fall that occurred a week earlier from which she never regained consciousness. Ann incorporated her creativity, compassion, enthusiasm, faith and love for people from all backgrounds into every aspect of her life.

Born on December 18, 1947 to parents Lillian (Lee) and Donald J. Herzog, Ann spent her early years in Williston, North Dakota. At the age of four, Ann and her family moved to Hillsboro, Oregon and eventually to northeast Portland where she attended Irvington Elementary School and Grant High School. At Grant she was honored to represent her school on the Rose Festival Court. As an American Field Service exchange student to Brazil, Ann embraced a love of travel and engagement with people from other cultures, which would shape the rest of her life.

Ann spent her college years at Mills College, Lewis & Clark College (which brought her back to Brazil), and Portland State University. She graduated with a BA in anthropology and, later in life, did graduate work in linguistics and teaching English as a second language.

In the midst of her undergraduate years, Ann lived in Los Angeles and volunteered at a Native American social service center, where she met her husband, Stephen. They returned together to Portland and were married November 14th, 1970 at the Old Church. Along with Stephen, Ann was devoted to their two daughters and took special delight in time with her two grandchildren.

Ann dedicated her life to the service of others and found her calling in supporting new Portlanders. In the early years of her career she worked with the Girl Scouts, migrant farm workers in Hillsboro, and taught at the Metropolitan Learning Center. At the heart of her professional life were the decades she worked with refugee and immigrant job seekers in the areas of vocational English and workforce development at IRCO, Portland Community College and Mt. Hood Community College.

At MHCC she developed and coordinated the Steps to Success Program for Non-native English Speakers. Never fully retiring, Ann worked in recent years to place and support international high school students in homes across the region through the Program of Academic Exchange (PAX). As a volunteer, she served with great joy on the boards of the African Women’s Coalition and Kúkátónón.

A person of deep faith, Ann believed in the importance of bringing people together across cultures and faith traditions. With her family, Ann was an integral part of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Trinity Cathedral, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and Grace Memorial Episcopal Church while Stephen served as a priest in the later two churches. Ann and her family also maintained a deep connection for over 40 years with the St. Andrew’s Catholic community.

Ann took pride in being a founder of Grace Art Camp, which has enriched the lives of thousands of children over the last 20 years. Her creativity and faith also shone through in her involvement and leadership in sacred dance, labyrinth guilds and quilting circles

Predeceased by her parents, Ann is survived by her husband, Stephen Schneider, two daughters Kimberly (John) Branam and Lindsay (Troy) MacLlarty, two grandchildren (Cecilia and Elliott), extended family members, the Five Families, and many, many dear friends.

In recognition of her life, Ann will be remembered with a vigil at St. Andrew Catholic Church at 7:00pm on Friday, November 15, and a Service of Thanksgiving for her life at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral at 10:30am on Saturday, November 16. In lieu of flowers, her family has created a memorial fund to support first generation immigrant and refugee college students at gofundme.com/f/ann-schneider-memorial-scholarship-fund.

Ashley L. Malin recently published a collection of her poems, Uncharted Shores. Included is a poem that Ashley wrote in memory of Ann Schneider. This beautiful poem was offered by her mother, Sharon Loomis-Malin, at Ann’s Vigil Service. Ann was also among those named on the dedication page of Uncharted Shores. [August 2020]