JohnSchneider

    "The United States Table Tennis Association (USTTA) uses a rating system similar to the Chess rating system. A rating of 2100 is incredibly
difficult to attain. To keep a rating like that when you are over 40 years old is a fantastic physical and mental accomplishment. To win the
Under-2100's at a National Tournament is an amazing feat.
    John Schneider was over 40 years old, and he was an owner of a National title, winning the Under 2100's at the US Nationals in Las Vegas.
John was a tricky player, a mentally tough player. He didn't beat you with pure power. He tricked you with strange and complex spins, difficult
angles, and surprise attacks. Fittingly, his favorite player was American star Danny Seemiller, a player known for tricky blocks and surprise
attacks. Playing John was like playing Chess with a Master.
   But there was so much more to John than just good play. He was a great sportsman. Always fair. Always nice to everyone. In tense
situations almost every player is prone to outbursts, but never John. John was kind and quiet through and through. Well, maybe too quiet.
On Father's Day, 2006, Dr. John Schneider took his own life, just as his father had done before when John was only 19 years old. Shock ripped
through the Table Tennis community. We all knew that John was reserved and shy, but no one suspected anything like this. We didn't even
know that he was an Optometrist, and that he had a phD from Berkely.
   What we did know is that John was a great competitor, an honest and nice guy, and a great comedic personality both on and off the court.
Online in the Table Tennis forums, he was always helpful and polite, working diligently to insure accuracy. He often scanned numerous sources
to bring us the most up to date information available on International Tournaments and other things like that.
John's sister wrote a letter to the Table Tennis community informing us that as time went on there were only 3 things in this world that John really
cared about. He was a Classic Rock Buff, who back-packed to Europe in order to be present at Jim Morrison's grave on the 10th anniversary of
his death. He was a Table Tennis buff. And he loved his animals. He had problems working closely with people which is why he couldn't
maintain his Optometry practice. He became reclusive from his family and friends. And when his pets died and financial issues became intense,
he just couldn't take it anymore. But she assured us that somehow, the Table Tennis community gave John a rare source of comfort in his
painful life.
   Obviously we all wish that John would have found a different way to deal with the issues that he had. He will be missed."- Marco

   "Thank you for taking the time to email me. It is okay to be intrusive, I have no secrets. I want the people who John cared about in recent years
to understand at least as much that can be understood. John was a good man with a mental illness.
   John was an emotionally troubled man for many years. He always had a big heart but was unable to be very social. Our father passed away
from suicide when John was 19 and he never fully recovered from that day. He closed off at that point. Let me say that John and I were very
close when he was younger so to watch him sort of disappear was tragic.
   Somehow the world of ping pong, animals and his rock n roll music were the only areas of his life that he was passionate about. Although he
was still guarded about friends. He also was a caretaker for my Mom as she advanced in age and fragility. John lived with my Mom until she
passed away in 1999. That was another huge blow for him.
   He would only visit me and his older brother Eric and our families during the holidays. He emailed but was withdrawn otherwise. I tried very
much to have John be more a part of my life and my kids but he was too uncomfortable. I always understood that he loved me and he knew I
loved him but he had to keep his distance. He was never that he "wouldn't" visit me, he just "couldn't". I accepted that - I was always disturbed by
his isolation but I had no choice but to accept and continue to love him unconditionally.
   I last saw him when he came to my daughter's Bat Mitzvah at the end of April. That was huge for him to come to this event - and I was so
touched.
   John was a hugely intelligent man with a very high IQ. But because of his social and mental illness, he could not hold down a job. Did you all
know he was an optometrist and that he held a doctorate from Berkely? He chose not to practice because of the social interaction. He worked so
hard to become an optometrist but then let it go because it was too difficult for him. That speaks volumes about my brother.
   The death of his aging animals also hit him hard. And he had financial troubles. He would not allow anyone to help him. And so I believe he
could no longer live life on life's terms. He wrote a very methodical letter to his older brother and I letting us know where to find what we needed.
In his own way, he was trying to be helpful at the end, as much as a troubled person could be helpful.
   I have been unable to access his email. His password apparently is his favorite player. Do you know who that was so I can retrieve the
information?
   Let the table tennis community know that there was probably nothing they could have done to help John. The friendships, tournaments and
camaraderie in your world were what kept him going for the last years. I am so grateful for everyone who befriended my dear little brother and
accepted him. I have been as candid as I can be about my brother so that everyone near and dear to him will piece together what they can.
   If anyone wants to help, I am suggesting they make a donation in John's memory to the San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health
Center. My mother worked on the board of directors at this facility to try to help John and others such as my Dad. The address is 14535
Sherman Circle, Van Nuys, CA 91405.
   The services are Friday, June 30th at Mt. Sinai at 9:00 am if anyone wishes to join our family.
Thank you again and feel free to pass on all the information I have given you. Secrets were part of John's problems and I do not believe in
secrets – they kill.

Kind Regards,
Laurie Schneider Jacobs"

Dear Friends,

   This letter is being read for me because as a clergyman I am obligated to be officiating at another memorial service today in Phoenix. I wanted
to express in this letter some of my thoughts about our dear friend John, whose life we remember and honor this morning.
   Like so many of you who knew John, I was shocked, deeply saddened, and crestfallen to hear that John was gone. I refused to believe it could
be true. How could this be? This couldn't be true- not John, not our friend John, who we all admired so much for so many reasons.
   Just a few days before this I talked and played Table Tennis with John 10 times in 2 weeks. I couldn't believe that we would never have a
chance to see, or joke, or play with him again. Then when reality set in, and I realized it was indeed true, I began to think and reflect on the John
Schneider that we all new and loved.
   John Schneider was a brilliant man with a great sense of humor, a unique and fascinating personality, despite his oftimes laconic, quiet
demeanor. He was certainly an enigma. He never let you get too close to him- yet, he was witty and charming, and he made everyone in the
Table Tennis community feel comfortable and happy. He was our "Answer Man." He either knew or soon discovered the answers to all Table
Tennis questions, and we all enjoyed his expertise on all types of Equipment from Shoes to Shirts, Blades, and Rubber.
   John made every Table Tennis player feel good, whether a novice or an advanced player, and he exemplified fine sportsmanship. He was the
most honest of players, but what we all admired most about John was his tenacity and fierce competitive spirit at the table. Despite chronic back
pain, John was a ferocious competitor. He never gave up, and he possessed an uncanny will to win, often against overwhelming odds. He was a
multiple national Champion, in singles and doubles events, and he won many other Titles, in countless venues. John was like the Rocky
Marciano of Table Tennis- though he had an unorthodox style, he had the biggest heart and the courage of a lion. He was an inspiration for
many of us, and he continues to inspire us, despite how heartbroken we are.
    I was privileged to have a special relationship with John which I will always treasure. It was a relationship that no one knew about. Because I
am a Clergyman, John trusted me and shared with me things he didn't tell anyone else. I never betrayed his confidences, and I will never do so.
For over 20 years, I remained friends with John, and we shared countless experiences. I I recall how on 2 different occasions, we drove together
to the US Closed [Nationals], and listened to John's favorite rock music for 6 straight hours. The other time, John listened to my Cantorial and
Operatic tapes for 6 hours- he really did have a kind heart. One year [at the Nationals] we stayed in the same room and we never even got into
an argument that entire week. Another time John came to my home to install and set up my new stereo system that I bought from him. It took
him almost 7 hours to do so but he enjoyed it.
   John made everyone of us feel good in different ways. In my case, I will never forget the many little things that went on between us. For
example, John was the first person to ever call me "bozo." That name stuck to this very day, and no matter where we were, and no matter how
long we hadn't seen each other, we would simply say (when we saw one another) "anything else?" Shaking hands after a match, giving away the
serve after winning the serve, getting John to give me half a banana or one of his beloved Gatorades- these were just a few of the little things
that endeared John to me. John and I shared our fondness not only for Table Tennis but for music, animals, comedy, and grammar as well.
   But more than anything, when I play Table Tennis now, I think of John on almost every shot. I can't get him out of my mind, or his infectious
laugh, or his witty comments; and I can't forget the enjoyment of playing doubles with and against him, recently, and for so many years. Yet,
despite all this, and despite the fact that I am heartbroken over John's loss, I know that all of us who knew John and played with him have similar
stories and similar affections for him. And I know that we've been blessed to know John, and that we are all better for having known him.
   He embodied so much of our sport, and the drive to win and compete, that we will always continue to admire and cherish his memory. I don't
think he ever realized just how much he was cared about, and how he influenced our own play. John was, in many ways, "Mr. Table Tennis." No
one can ever replace him, and he was unique in style and temperament. It is a tragedy that in the game of life, John had difficulty and inner
turmoil. But, he is now at peace, and in no more pain.
   I extend my deepest sympathies to John's family, and thank John's sister Laurie for her kindness and help. Let me conclude with this:

"John, we will never forget you. We will remember you every time we play and every time someone makes an extraordinary shot. We will
remember you whenever we see great tenacity and a winning spirit at the table. John, we will never forget you, and your name will never be
forgotten."

   May the soul of John Schneider be bound in the bond of everlasting life. And let us say, "Amen."

Sincerely,
Cantor Bernard Savitz"