Arthur Oelkers Schott

Arthur Oelkers Schott passed away peacefully on May 27, 2016, just one month shy of his 98th birthday (July 9, 1918). At the moment his life ended, Schott was comfortably and lovingly surrounded at his bedside by his wife of nearly 68 years, Mary Grinnen Schott, and their seven sons. Schott was born and raised in New Orleans, and for more than 80 years of his life was a combination of baseball historian, statistician, raconteur, and foremost authority on all things baseball, both major league and minor league, including the original New Orleans (baseball) Pelicans. Schott graduated from Jesuit High School in 1936 and attended Loyola University before World War II. During World War II, Schott served honorably in the United States Army from January, 1942, until August, 1945. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater, mostly in the Philippines and New Guinea. At one time, while on a transport ship in the Pacific Ocean, his ship was attacked by a Japanese pilot, forcing Schott and the other survivors to abandon ship and await rescue in shark infested waters. After returning from military service, Schott worked at the family business, Schott and Company, Incorporated, for over 40 years. Schott was a parishioner of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Lake Vista for more than 50 years, where he served as lector and usher, and he was also a long time member of the Knights of Columbus. Schott is survived by his loving wife, Mary Grinnen Schott, and seven sons, Arthur, Jr. (Patricia Delgadillo), John (Mala Newman), Gerard, Stephen (Pamela Keenan), Christopher (Judy Canella), Kevin (Peggy Shirer), and Richard (Linda Cuellar). He is predeceased by an eighth son, Philip Joseph, who died as a young child. Schott is also survived by sixteen grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Schott was the oldest of seven children of Bernard and Eugenie ("Nina") Oelkers Schott and is also survived by four of his brothers, Reverend Paul W. Schott, S.J., Steven H. Schott, Judge Patrick M. Schott, retired, and Dr. Matthew J. Schott. He is predeceased by his brother, Bernard J. Schott, and his only sister, Rosemary Schott Stevens. Schott is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitation will be at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 6666 Spanish Fort Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124, on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., followed by a funeral mass at the same location at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be private, but all are welcome for the visitation and mass. Donations may be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church, or if you prefer, go to a baseball game and think of Schott while there; he would have liked that. To sign the online guest register, please visit www.Greenwoodfuneralhome.net