Virginia Margaret Schatz

Virginia Margaret Bogert Schatz

Virginia Margaret Bogert Schatz died on Sunday, November 28, 2010, in North Branford, Connecticut.

She was born December 23, 1928, in Englewood, New Jersey, the youngest daughter of Louise C. Laue and Daniel G. Bogert.

A graduate of Englewood public schools and 1950 Smith College alumna with a degree in French and chemistry, she was one of the first women to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry at Brown University, earning her doctorate in 1955. While at Brown, she married classmate Paul N. Schatz, a Philadelphia native and University of Pennsylvania alumnus. They settled in Charlottesville, where they lived on Jamestown Drive for nearly 50 years before moving to Connecticut in 2007.

With generosity, gusto, and good humor, Mrs. Schatz raised three sons, ran a busy household, and supported her husband's career as a chemistry professor. She was also active in civic life, serving on Charlottesville's School Board, City Planning Commission, as its vice-chair and first-ever female chair, League of Women Voters, and Democratic Committee. She kept a hand in science, conducting postdoctoral research at the University of Virginia in the surgery and biology departments. She was also an avid amateur archaeologist, horsewoman, and opera buff.

Mrs. Schatz spent many happy hours at Lazy Days, her family's cottage on Fire Island, where she gamely welcomed family and friends, cooked historic chicken dinners, vanquished old-house problems, gave new meaning in retirement to the term "late breakfast," pored fervently over the New York Times, triumphantly plucked splinters from several generations of children's feet, and occasionally snatched a well-deserved nap on the front-porch swing.

Besides her husband, Paul and sister, Elizabeth, she leaves her sons, David Gilliam Schatz (Susan Papa) of New Haven, Connecticut, Peter Joseph Schatz (Leilani Miller) of Cupertino, California, and Jonathan Harry Schatz (Mary), of New York, New York.

"Grandma Ginny" also leaves six grandchildren, Annakate and Claudia of New Haven, Daniel and Andrew of Cupertino, and Paul and Madeline of New York. Her extended family was also dear to her, particularly her sisters, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law and their children and grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents; and her sisters, Mary Louise, Jean and Nancy.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, December 11, 2010, at 88 Notch Hill Road, North Branford, Connecticut.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ocean Beach Community Fund, P.O. Box 23, Ocean Beach, NY 11770; The League of Women Voters of Charlottesville/Albemarle, 1932 Arlington Boulevard, Room 111, Charlottesville, VA 22903; or the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.