Niels L. Schulz

On July 24, 2022, Niels L. Schulz, 85, died in University Hospital, Syracuse, N.Y. after a lengthy illness. He is survived by his loving, devoted family: his wife of more than 60 years, Mary Schulz (née Chichester), his daughter, Kimberly Schulz, and his son-in-law, Bruce P. Burrell.  

Niels was born in Larchmont, NY, son of Jens (‘James’) and Elizabeth (‘Lucy’; née Crossman) and was very proud of his Danish heritage.  He grew up in Greenwich, CT, and graduated from Greenwich Country Day School, Choate, and Wagner College.  Niels especially treasured his years at Choate, where mentors stressed not only academics, but especially the importance of integrity, honesty, and commitment to a higher purpose; he carried those values with him the rest of his life.  

Niels always excelled at both academics and athletics.  At Choate, he represented the school as an athlete on the soccer and track teams all four years, as well as on the hockey team as an underclassman and the squash team as an upperclassman.  He also sang with the choral club and glee club all four years. 

Niels enjoyed his years at Wagner College, where he met Mary, the love of his life.  He continued to play squash and soccer at Wagner, winning varsity awards in both sports.  Niels graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1960, winning the Mathematics Award for Proficiency in Business Administration.

Starting in middle school, Niels apprenticed at his father’s fine jewelry and watch business in New York City.  In 1960, he began working for General Foods Corporation as a Financial Analyst.  Over a period of nearly 20 years, he held a variety of positions, culminating in Director of Business Planning and Management Information Systems.  Niels and the family moved to Connecticut in 1980, and he began a new role as Director of Planning and Management Information Systems at Loctite Corporation.  Niels and a partner formed Info-Point Corporation in November 1984, which successfully installed business and information systems for customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Long Island, NY.  

After retirement, Niels and his wife moved to Virgil, NY.  Throughout his life, Niels had maintained a commitment to civil rights and social justice. In retirement, Niels and Mary became active in the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, with Niels serving as co-chair of the Care Team and a successful stewardship campaign. Along with Mary, Niels became a Master Gardener and worked to restore and create gardens at the Cortland County Office Building and Courthouse.  Niels also served as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals in Virgil, NY.  

Throughout his life, Niels enjoyed doing things with his wife and daughter, especially camping, swimming, hiking, running, biking, and birdwatching. They collaborated on numerous do-it-yourself projects at many of their residences over the years.  Some highlights includedeveloping trails, building a retaining wall and shade garden, making a lookout, planting organic vegetable gardens, and assisting his wife with many beautiful flower and native plant gardens.

Niels and Mary settled in Brewerton, NY in 2021 to be closer to family. His family will miss his total commitment to integrity and honesty, his empathy, his sense of humor, his ability to fix anything, his tendency to break out in song when happy, and the guidance of his sense of justice and commitment to making the world a better place for all people.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to “First Unitarian Society of Ithaca” at FUSIT, Post Office Box 6, Ithaca, NY 14851, or by calling(607) 273-7521, or you can contribute to your favorite social justice charity.

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