Member Gone West (Mike Schneider)

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Feb 12, 2005
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Rogers, Arkansas
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iRide
I received the following email this morning:

Hello Chip,

With a heavy heart I wanted to inform you of the passing of Mike (Travis Michael) Schneider.

Susan Cornwell

Mike was a member of the PoA community and had 101 airports claimed in the ConUS challenge. I never had the good fortune to meet Mike, but communicated with him occasionally re the challenge. It sounds like he loved life and got everything he could out of it.

Blue skies Mike.

Travis Michael Schneider, record holder for the most consecutive Tallahassee Marathons (26), avid pilot, and retired aerospace and public engineer, died at his home Saturday, September 20, 2008. He was 71 years old. A wonderful companion, father and friend, Mike was born in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Feb. 20, 1937, raised in both Georgia and Florida, and graduated from St. Petersburg High School. He served in the United States Air Force as a mechanic, where he developed an interest in flying. Mike attended Florida State University and, following his graduation, started a position with Pan Am at Cape Canaveral, which afforded him the opportunity to travel all over the world. He later pursued and received his master's degree in engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology. While living in Indian Harbour Beach, Mike enjoyed competitive sailing along the Eau Gallie River, and shortly thereafter his love for running began. In Tallahassee, he worked as a civil engineer for both the State of Florida and the City of Tallahassee. Mike was a competitor and loved a good contest. He was a member of Gulf Winds Track Club for more than 30 years and was a regular at the local and regional races. Throughout his running career, he received multiple awards and completed two Boston Marathons. Mike passed on his enthusiasm for running by serving as a volunteer cross-country coach for eight years at both Belle Vue and Cobb middle schools, impacting the lives of many students. He also informally mentored numerous adolescents, offering race tips and training advice, thus encouraging their interest in recreational and competitive running. He was frequently seen in northeast Tallahassee on his long training runs In the late '70s Mike became serious about flying, and during his years of flying landed either his Cessna or Maule airplanes at least once in each of the 48 contiguous states. He used his expertise to offer other pilots assistance with safety and technical issues. Another passion over the last several years was Seminole baseball. He actually counted down the days each year until the "first pitch" and flew his plane to away games to cheer on his beloved 'Noles. Mike was a long-standing member of Killearn United Methodist Church, and he had sung in the church choir since 1975. Mike is survived by his best friend and long partner in life, Susan Cornwell; daughter and son-in-law, Lee and Mark Cotter, and his grandsons, Andrew, Matthew and Luke Cotter, all of Salt Lake City, Utah; his sister and brother-in-law, Melinda and Don Pearl of Monticello, Fla., and his niece, Stephanie Henderson of Clearwater, Fla. A memorial service will be held at Killearn United Methodist Church on Friday, September 26, at 3 p.m. EDT. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions in his memory to Killearn United Methodist Church, 2800 Shamrock South, Tallahassee, FL 32309.
 
Aw CRAP!

I liked Mike, we worked together at the Cape but did not know each other at the time. It was only here that we realized that we had a small world experience.

It was obvious that he loved flying by all the CONUS challenge airport he had. Take some time to read his entries!

Fair winds sir!
 
:(

Mike brought his Maule to Gaston's one year. He and his wife were going to split the cabin the next year but weather kept him in Tallahassee. Despite my protests he sent me his share anyway.

I am better for knowing him.
 
Leah and I shared supper with him and Susan at Gastons the first year we were there. What a great guy. I hope that Susan sees this thread. Deepest sympathies from Iowa.
 
here's the picture I was thinking of. :(


jesse%20flower.jpg
 
I had the privilege of flying with Mike in Tallahassee, and you may also recall that he filed the first ConUS Challenge claim, on its first day- that was Quincy Gadsden Airport in Quincy, Florida. We had a lot of fun that day, and Mike was a good stick.

He also made a special point of coming to visit at my wife's grandmother's 100th birthday party in Tallahassee.

Mike was also a dedicated coach of young athletes, and until he took ill, liked to run in marathons.

Wind under your wings, Mike...
 
Oh no. This is such a shame. I met Mike once in 06' at Gastons. I met him at breakfast when I ate late and chatted with him about the flyin and POA and his maule. I felt bad for him when he recently posted that he was selling his Maule.

I also recall his departure in the Maul. In my brief time meeting him I really felt that he was a friendly fellow and asset to the pilot community. May his family be granted peace and comfort.:(
 
Leah and I shared supper with him and Susan at Gastons the first year we were there. What a great guy. I hope that Susan sees this thread. Deepest sympathies from Iowa.

That was my first year, and I remember talking flying and Mauls with him for a good while. Tail winds, friend.
 
Oh, how sad. :( What a loss for his family and loved ones and our aviation community.

Here are some pictures of his beautiful Maule as he and Susan were getting ready to taxi out at Gaston's.

I was hoping to fly with Mike and Susan to Dog Island last year, but we had a schedule conflict and weren't able to make it.

Susan, I'm so sorry. He was an exceptional and wonderful man.
 
This thread just proves that nobody has more friends than a POA member.... tailwinds, Mike...
 
Let's be sure to remember him in a toast at the next Gaston's PoA fly-in.
 
He sounds like a man who loved flying, aviation and all it entailed. A true ambassador lost.

Fair winds, Sir.
 
Here are a few pics from the day we flew in TLH... day 1 of the GoFlyAmerica era.

edit:

Plus, one from when he graciously turned out to help celebrate Grandmother's 100th birthday, in Tallahassee.

A class-act, in every way.
 

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Great Pics Spike. I hope Scott logs in and can put a black ribbon and date gone west on his Avitar like he did for Bob.
 
Gone, but not forgotten. It never gets easy to hear those words.

RIP, friend.
 
I never had the chance to meet him, but from what others have said he would have been a great guy to know!

Blue skies and strong tailwinds, Mike!
 
My condolences as well.

I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Mike, but in a big coincidence met Susan at the Downwind restaurant @ PDK. She was there for another party the very same night we had the Henning Arrives in Atlanta dinner there back in Feb. '07!
 
So little time...so many airplanes. The Maule was a good choice. God Bless You.:blueplane:
 
So sad, and yet, look right here and see the kind of friends he had. Obviously Mike had quite an impact on many people that he met in life.
I think this picture from Spike's post sums up how much he loved aviation and indeed life itself.

CAVU, Mike
 

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I appreciate all of your kind messages, pictures, and memories. Our trip to Gaston's Fly-In was one of the best trips we ever took, and we so appreciated Diana's help with the arrangements, so that we could attend. We never forgot the interesting landing and the good company we shared while there. It was fun from beginning to end.
We also had a wonderful time with the GoFlyAmerica claims. Mike had a keen zest for aviation, and I loved being in the right seat.
Thank you for your condolences during this difficult time, and happy landings to all.
Susan
 
Sorry about the loss. Blue skies..
 
I appreciate all of your kind messages, pictures, and memories. Our trip to Gaston's Fly-In was one of the best trips we ever took, and we so appreciated Diana's help with the arrangements, so that we could attend. We never forgot the interesting landing and the good company we shared while there. It was fun from beginning to end.
We also had a wonderful time with the GoFlyAmerica claims. Mike had a keen zest for aviation, and I loved being in the right seat.
Thank you for your condolences during this difficult time, and happy landings to all.
Susan

Susan,
Our condolences. There's nothing I can say, except that he had friends. Feel free to stop by here and reminisce.
 
Mike sounds like a great guy. Sorry I never had the chance to meet him. :(
 
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