Norman Donald Schroeder

Norman Donald Schroeder "Don" age 89, of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away on December 19, 2025 . He was the son of the late Norman and Edith Armstrong Schroeder of Baltimore, Maryland. He was also preceded in death by his younger brother David Lee Schroeder and younger sister, Edith Dianne Schroeder.

Don's family came to the United States from Hamburg, Germany and settled into Baltimore in 1885. There is even a Schroeder Street in Baltimore City. While a teenager, Don worked shoveling snow, delivering newspapers for the Baltimore News American, and painted for the American School for the Blind. At Towson High, Don ran track and pitched Varsity Baseball. Don worked at Black and Decker before being drafted to serve in the Army. He pitched for both the American Legion and also played baseball for the Fort McPherson Third Army Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. While he was there, he even met Joe Di Maggio, the Yankee ballplayer.

Don attended college at the University of Baltimore and worked for the Jeffersonian Newspaper in advertising and sales following in his father's footsteps. After graduating in 1969, Don worked for the American Cancer Society as a program manager, helping in cancer prevention and education programs promoting smoking cessation.

1971 was a banner year for Don as his father told him of an opening position for Maryland Petroleum Council State Office of the American Petroleum Institute. Don became Associate Director and lobbied the state legislature on regulatory and legislative issues affecting the major oil companies. Don also met and married Hope that year. They both attended a Varsity Club white water rafting trip on the Yohaghenee River. They dated September, October, and November and were married on December 2, 1971 at the Unitarian Church on Charles Street in Baltimore.

Don and Hope raised their family in Cape St. Claire Annapolis, Maryland where Stacy Dona and Ashley Renee flourished. Hope and Don adored their family dogs- Pie, Sadie, Lily, and Malibu. The family shared special adventures to Austria, Greece, and France as well as Drowsy Water Ranch Colorado, Grand Canyon, and annual summer Bethany Beach trips. Don adored his grandchildren, Cole, Austin, Sophia, Cora and Anna. He loved teaching his grandchildren about fiscal responsibility, investing, and helped each of them start their first investment accounts.

Don made very good friends at API during his 30 year career there. He made life long friendships with Mike McDonald, Drew Cobbs, and Kay Richards. Every year, they attended the Tawes Award of which Don was one of the founders in 1976. After retiring from API , Don worked part time lobbying for the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland for social justice and economic issues working closely with the Episcopal Bishop. He and Hope moved to West Annapolis in 2008 to live with his daughter, Stacy and her family and remained there for over 17 years until they moved to BrightView Annapolis in August of this year. The Brightview community of friends, caretaker Detra, West Annapolis neighbors, family, and St. Margaret's Church friends could not be thanked enough for their love and support during Don's recent illness. Even very recently, kind, loving, and silly Don enjoyed reading both the Baltimore Sun, Capital Gazette, WallStreet Journal, Washington Post and New York Times daily. He enjoyed sharing articles and doing a daily cross word puzzle. Don was an active member of St. Margaret's Church serving on the choir and attending regularly with Stacy's family.

Don is survived by his wife of 53 years, Hope Arlene Schroeder, daughters Stacy and Ashley and five grandchildren. His funeral and service will be on Thursday, January 8th at 1 PM at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Annapolis, Maryland. Persons wishing to honor Don's life may do so by making a donation to St. Margaret's Church.