Barbara Van Schaick

Barbara L. Van Schaick, 88, went to be with her Lord Jesus early Tuesday morning May 4 at home surrounded by her family.

Born February 11, 1933 in Reading, Pa., Barbara was the daughter of the late Richard and Mary Catherine (Pfautz) Clapham of Williston Park (Nassau county), and was a 1950 graduate of Mineola High School.

It was during her tenure as a secretary to the Adjutant General of 1st Air Force, Mitchell Air Force base, that she met her future husband George S Van Schaick, on her one and only blind date, at the officers club, set up by a friend who worked for him. Following their marriage on July 19, 1958, she enjoyed being a housewife and raising her children. She returned to the workforce after they reached high school, working as the manager of The Flower Pot in Latham, NY.

She was a member of the Covenant Family Presbyterian Church from 2006 until its dissolved in 2016 and recently the family started attending Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Her Christian beliefs, shared with her husband, led them to follow Christ's words and actions to be Salt and Light in our fallen world so absorbed in worshiping self and materialism, instead of being in the public square. They were longtime supporters of the New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation and attend the annual Legislative Day. They also contributed to many other organizations, including the City Mission of Schenectady.

Barbara was a past 25-year member of the Schonowe Volunteer Fire Auxiliary, was a regular participant of Arlene Vrooman's Tuesday Quilters in Schoharie for more than 30 years, exhibiting many of her quilts at the Altamont and NY State Fairs, for which she received many prizes including Best of Fair. She was a tremendous cook and baker.

Like her seafaring parents, who met on a cruise to Bermuda, Barbara loved to travel - whether a bus trip with her daughter's 4-H club to a NYC museum or Boston flower show, a roadtrip with friends to see the sights of Tennessee, a cross-country journey out West through the Badlands, and climbing Pike's Peak, like her grandparents did more than a century ago. Barbara and George shared many adventures most occurring in the 28 years since he retired, including approximately 10 cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, various Caribbean islands, Hawaii, and a 21-day bi-coastal journey through the Panama Canal, as well as group trips via motor coach, through England, Wales & Scotland, and another from Ireland, to London and Paris via the Chunnel. They have panned for gold and drunk champagne above the Arctic circle.

Survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, George S Van Schaick, Barbara is also survived by her children, Holly A. Van Schaick and David J. Van Schaick, both of Rotterdam, as well as her brother, Richard Clapham of Jamaica, NY, and her grandchildren Elizabeth Van Schaick and Matthew Van Schaick.

Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Jason McGuire on Saturday, May 8 at 2 pm at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church, 1230 Rugby Road, Schenectady, NY 12308. A visitation will be held at the church from 1 to 2 pm prior to the funeral service.

Interment in Viewland Cemetery in Rotterdam, NY

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Barbara’s memory to New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation, P.O. Box 131, Spencerport, NY 14559. Due to Covid restrictions on gatherings a celebration of Barbara's life will be conducted at a future date.