ERNST WILLIAM SCHOEN-RENE Ernst William Schoen-Rene, age 86, beloved husband, father, uncle, professor, poet, songster, and drama critic, who lived in Kingston, NY since 2006, died peacefully, October 27, 2023 of complications of Alzheimers. He was born October 13, 1937 in Milwaukee, WI to the late Otto and Molly Schoen-Rene. Ernst grew up in Cambridge, MA and moved to Geneva, NY in 1945 where his father had become Head of the English Department at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Ernst attended Geneva's public schools, graduating in 1955. While at Yale University (1955-59) he joined the Russian Chorus. During the summers, beginning in 1957, the chorus traveled to the Soviet Union, one of the first American groups to do so. Ernst sang with them whenever he could for the rest of his life. In 1964, Ernst married Betty Sherk, and they moved to Seattle to attend graduate school at the University of Washington. In 1970 they moved to California, and he joined CSU-Chico's English Department. He became an admired teacher who taught a broad range of subjects and students. During the 35 years Ernst and Betty lived in Chico, he volunteered in elementary school classrooms for which he wrote child-friendly musical versions of Oedipus, Macbeth, and Hamlet. He also wrote catchy lyrics to well-known classical music. Most summers he and Betty and their two sons drove across the US visiting family and friends along the way. At retirement, Ernst and Betty moved east, happily settling in Kingston, New York. There he participated in poetry and play readings, senior college, and was active in Holy Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church. In addition to his wife, Betty, he is survived by his children, Ernst R. Schoen-Rene of San Francisco, CA, Erich Schoen-Rene New Paltz, NY, his grandchildren, Laszlo Diamond, Neva Schoen-Rene, and Oscar Schoen-Rene; his sister, Juliet Baker of Northport Maine, two brothers, Karl Schoen-Rene of Colchester, CT, and Augustus Schoen-Rene of Geneva, NY. There will be a Memorial Service for Ernst at 11 am, Saturday, November 18 at Holy Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church on 30 Pine Grove Avenue, Kingston, NY, 12401.

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Published by Chico Enterprise-Record on Nov. 10, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Ernst Schoen-Rene

Sponsored by ChicoER.com.

7 Entries

Janet Palermo

December 10, 2023

I send my condolences to Betty, Ernst, Erich and family. Ernst was a wonderful instructor. He was full of fun and ideas and very kind. He was the kind of person that one never forgets. I am very grateful I crossed paths with this family.

Catherine Sullivan, Curator, retired, Janet Turner Print Museum, CSU, Chico

December 8, 2023

So sad in this loss. Ernst was so helpful when I needed assistance in narrative and music for my original ballet, Alice in Wonderland. He was so generous to students and colleagues and I missed him and Betty when they moved to NY.
to the family.

James Sloan

November 13, 2023

I met Ernst at Yale when we both sang in the Freshman Glee Club in 1954-55, travelling to concert sites. Our friendship grew the next year when we were both members of the Apollo Glee Club (the one for those who were not good enough to join the Yale Glee Club). He had a car then, and I remember driving with him to Vassar to play bridge in a girl´s dormitory. In the fall of 1957 we were still in the Apollo Glee Club, and he suggested that we both answer a poster on tryouts for the Yale Russian Chorus, which neither of us had ever heard of. We did, and stayed, and the last time we sang together with them was in summer 2016 in Verona, Italy with other alumni of the group, joined by Betty and my wife, Mimmu.
Mimmu got to know Ernst and Betty, when in the 1970s through 2000s they would come east from California to visit Ernst´s sister Julie in Boston, and then stay with us at our house in Harvard Massachusetts on their way to their New York cabin near Lake Champlain. After I retired in 2008 in January we moved to Finland, and they visited us several times to our great joy, and travelled with us throughout Finland, before visiting his mother´s relatives in Norway or his father´s relatives in Germany. Every time he left, he would leave something behind, (the first time by accident, later in his typical whimsy) because Mimmu said that she would not send it back; that they would have to come back to get it. So, we comfort ourselves with fun and wonderful memories while wiping away tears of sorrow and send our prayers of comfort and LOVE to Betty and the family.

Jane Birmingham

November 10, 2023

Ernst lively mind and personality always shone through. Our condolences to his lovely wife, Betty, and to their family. Jane Birmingham and Glen Vining

Richard Gorman

November 10, 2023

I took a Shakespeare class from Dr. Schoen-Rene at Chico State in the 1970s. He was a top-notch teacher, always enlightening. I will always remember him riding his bike through campus. This is very sad news.....condolences to the family.

Bonnie Pealer

November 10, 2023

Augustus, thinking of you at this difficult time.

Mary E Beilman

November 9, 2023

I know Ernst from Holy Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church in Kingston, where he was a fellow choir member. It was such a pleasure to have known Ernst, who had a remarkable, accomplished life. Rest in peace, Ernst. Heaven has a very special new member. With loving thoughts, Mary Beilman

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