Brian Schroeder

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow,
the death of Brian Schroeder November 6, from cancer at Royal Nursing
Center in Falmouth, MA. He was 68.

A native of Cape Town, South Africa, Brian graduated from the
University of Cape Town, South Africa, with a Masters degree in
physics, and came to the U.S. in 1964 to work at the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution. He worked as a research assistant in
Chemistry Department, quickly rising to research associate.

He worked in the Biology Department running the electron microscope for
Dr. Stan Watson in the early 1970s, and then rejoined the Chemistry
Department to set up and run the X-Ray fluorescence analytical facility
for Dr. Geoffrey Thompson.

He was an author of a number of scientific papers. He retired from the
Institution in 1999. Since his retirement he has kept an active role in
the Chemistry and Geology Departments assisting various groups on a
part time basis.

As well as his role in the scientific departments, Brian was active in
athletic endeavors — he played volleyball at a competitive level; was
an avid golfer and had many successes in the 30 years he was a member
at the Otis Air Base golf club. He enjoyed bicycling and swimming and
was often seen walking the bike path to Woods Hole in the mid-morning.

Brian leaves a brother Philip Schroeder and a sister June (Schroeder)
Parenzee of Cape Town, South Africa, and a sister Eleanor (Schroeder)
Smith of Melbourne, Australia. He was also the brother of the late
Lucile (Schroeder) Masters. He leaves nine nieces and nephews and 11
grand nieces and grand nephews.

Brian is remembered as a caring and considerate person. Warm and
outgoing, he was also an intellectual who kept his inner most thoughts
to himself. He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends and
colleagues.

A celebration of Brian’s life will be held at the Carriage House,
Quissett Campus, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Saturday,
November 10, 2007, from 4 to 6 p.m.