OLD BRIDGE, NJ--Joseph “Joe” F. Schneider II, age 67, passed away peacefully in his home in Old Bridge, NJ, on Sunday, February 17, 2019. He was born on November 6, 1951, in Brooklyn to parents Joseph and Jean Schneider. He grew up in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn before moving to Staten Island, where he graduated from high school. Joe completed his BA in English Literature from SUNY Cortland, then moved to Miami, where he achieved his Master’s and ABD PhD in English with a concentration in Irish Literature from the University of Miami. While on a trip to Dublin, Ireland, he met the love of his life, Mary, who was also from Staten Island. The two married and moved to New Jersey, where they raised daughters Danielle, Kathleen and Mary Theresa Stoddard. While raising his family and working a full-time job, Joe completed his JD from the Fordham University School of Law, which he applied in his work as an editor of law books. Joe was a voracious reader and life-long learner with a powerful love of music – both classical and contemporary. His great knowledge through reading led him to being a contestant on Jeopardy! Later in life, he found his peace in Zen Buddhism and practiced zazen (meditation) daily, becoming an active member of Cold Mountain Zen sangha where he will henceforth be ordained a Zen Priest. Joe was known to all as a kind, bright soul and a life-long animal lover. Joseph was predeceased by his mother, Jean, who passed away in 2009. He is survived by his wife, Mary Theresa; his father, Joseph Schneider; his three daughters, Danielle, Kathleen, and Mary; his four brothers, Dennis, John, William, and Thomas; his son-in-law, Sean; and his beloved cat, Tilly and grand-cat, Belle. Family, friends, and others whose lives were touched by Joseph are invited to Old Bridge Funeral Home on Route 516 to express their condolences on Thursday, February 21, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A Zen Buddhist funeral service will take place at the same location on Friday, February 22, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Lakota Wolf Preserve, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Greater New York Chapter – Manhattan, or Joe’s sangha, Cold Mountain Zen.
Joseph and his wife Mary is seen above
Photo sent from family 2-19-19
Reported Story By Travis Dunham