Stephen Schnellenberger

Family-Placed Obituary

STEPHEN SCHNELLENBERGER 48, of Ocean Ridge, FL, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 9, 2008, is the oldest son of Beverlee and Howard Schnellenberger (the head football coach at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.) Stephen suffered from one of the rarest known diseases of the endocrine glands, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia IIb (MENIIb), which required numerous surgeries over the years. On January 4, 1984, the day after his father's Orange Bowl victory that gave the University of Miami its first-ever national collegiate football championship, Stephen began six weeks of daily radiation therapy to combat small tumors that were discovered in the right side of his neck. Remarkably, he rebounded time and again to the point of being able to make 20-mile bike tours, lift weights, and play tennis and golf along with pursuing his career in the business world. He organized a major pro/amateur tennis event in April, 1984, to raise money for cancer patients. The 'Miracle of Miami Match' raised more than $50,000. Stephen conducted several other events to help enhance the lives of cancer patients, generating more than $130,000 for such causes as Camp F.I.R.E., the first Florida camp for kids with cancer. Although Stephen needed frequent medical care throughout his life, he lived normally until after an operation to remove a tumor and his colon, when he later went into a coma and suffered a severe brain injury. Over the last five years Stephen has endured a great deal of therapy and rehabilitation and Coach Schnellenberger stated in an interview, 'He's tougher than any football player I ever had. He's tougher than I am.' Stephen could often be seen on the sidelines at FAU football games in his wheelchair. His mother, Beverlee, constantly reminded him that he was their hero and that there were no football players as strong as Stephen Schnellenberger. Stephen was born January 27, 1960 in Lexington, Ky., and spent his childhood in Alabama, California and Miami, as his father worked on the football staffs of the University of Alabama, the Los Angeles Rams and the Miami Dolphins. He graduated from Pace High School in Miami, FL, and attended the University of Florida, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Stephen graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in business. He went on to work for The Flyer Publishing Co., then worked for Mass Mutual and later in real estate, Insurance and computer sales. Survived by his brothers: Stuart, who lives in Pembroke Pines, FL, with his wife, Suzie, and their sons, Stuart Joseph and Marcus Howard. Their daughter, Teather Ann recently married Killan Covalt; they reside in Weston Fl. Stephen's youngest brother, Timothy, lives in Delray Beach where he developed the very successful 'The Schnellenberger Properties'. A Memorial Gathering will be held Friday, March 14, 2008 from 5:00-9:00 pm at the Kraeer Funeral Home. A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 11am at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 370 SW 3rd Street, Boca Raton, FL. A Reception will follow the Mass at Florida Atlantic University in the Tom Oxley Athletic Center Ð 2nd Floor Founders Room, 777 Glades Road Boca Raton, FL. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society. KRAEER FUNERAL HOME 1353 North Federal Highway Boca Raton, Florida 33432 (561) 395-1800 To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries