The Consortium family was deeply saddened to learn today (March 1, 2017) of the passing of Patricia Schoen on Sunday (Feb. 26, 2017). As the wife of our founder, Sterling Schoen, she was a stalwart supporter of The Consortium since its inception and served as something of our matriarch through the years.
Patricia Schoen (Photo by Wiley Price)
Mrs. Schoen earned her MBA in 1951 from Washington University in St. Louis and was for many years a marketing instructor in the business school, where she met Sterling Schoen.
She strongly supported Sterling in the early 1960s as he awakened to the need for an organization that could increase diversity in business education, conceived of The Consortium, and followed it through to our launch in 1966.
“Mrs. Schoen would typically understate her contribution to The Consortium, but we felt her influence and her support every day,” said Peter J. Aranda III, CEO and executive director of The Consortium.
Until recent years, when her health would not permit it, Mrs. Schoen would appear each year at the annual Orientation Program & Career Forum, where she would greet incoming students. She most recently came to our 50th Orientation Program in St. Louis in June.
“She was usually the most popular person at OP,” Aranda said, noting that students at last year’s OP lined up for the chance to greet and thank her during our founders’ reception and our 50th anniversary gala.
Mrs. Schoen was a regular financial supporter of The Consortium and was the first individual donor to provide financial support to the undergraduate program we have in the planning stages. Peter would meet her for lunch at least annually. One of his fondest memories was having breakfast with her and his mother at the 2006 OP.
“They both took great joy in laughing at my expense,” he said.
Mrs. Schoen died peacefully with her family on Sunday. Daughter Jennie Jeffrey, and her family, and son Chris Schoen were able to say their goodbyes. Sterling Schoen died in 1999. Mrs. Schoen would have been 90 in October.
Arrangements are as follows:
Visitation
Thursday, March 9
3-5 p.m.: Visitation opens again from 6-8 p.m.
Bopp Chapel
10610 Manchester Road
Kirkwood, MO 63122-1308
Funeral Services
Friday, March 10
11 a.m.
Ladue Chapel
9450 Clayton Rd
St. Louis, Missouri 63124
Burial and Memorial Service
Saturday, March 11
Family Burial Plot in Lufkin, Texas
Pictured above: Pat Schoen with Peter Aranda and her daughter Jennie Jeffrey at the 2016 Orientation Program in St. Louis. Photo by Brian Treffeisen.