Obituary of John Philip Schnitzius

John Philip Schnitzius passed away on February 10th, 2024 in Cocoa Beach, FL, just shy of his 87th birthday.

John was born on 02/14/1937, the son of John Alphonse Schnitzius and Frances Rose (Szymanski), and grew up in Mount Ephraim, New Jersey. He acquired his associate degree from Temple University and his BS in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University. He met his life partner Loretta at the Dancette Ballroom in Oakland, NJ, and they were married on 02/24/1962. John worked as an electrical engineer for many years, for NCR, Harris Corporation, and NASA among others, living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Florida before retiring in Cocoa Beach.

John was an active boater and sailor for many years, and was a member of the Grumpy Ole Sailors and the East Coast Sailing Association. Whenever he wasn't on a camping trip with Loretta, he was planning his next trip. He loved adventure, fishing, hiking, camping and traveling. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, and always had many friends, old and new. John has been described as wise and kind and humble, always willing to give advice or help with a lending hand.

John was a eucharistic minister and longtime member of the Church of Our Savior in Cocoa Beach.

He is survived by his wife, Loretta of nearly 62 years, his three children, Kevin Schnitzius and his wife, Kim, Danielle Schnitzius Norwood and her husband, Charlie, and Mark Schnitzius and his wife, Marjorie; his five grandchildren, Abi Schnitzius, Livia Schnitzius, Bryce Schnitzius, Chaeli Norwood Harden (Kevin), and Chase Norwood, and by his great grandson, Kix Harden. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Frances, and by his sister, Clare, and brother-in-law, Bill Leap.

Services will be held Friday, February 23rd at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of Our Saviour in Cocoa Beach. Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge. In lieu of flowers his family asks that donations be made in John’s name to the Cancer Center of Merritt Island.