Dr. Clarke Edward Schiller
September 19, 1932 - December 4, 2018 Resident of Palo Alto
After four months in the Vi of Palo Alto Skilled Nursing Facility, Clarke, 86, passed away leaving his wife of sixty years, June Fisher Schiller, two sons, Clarke Edward Schiller II (Chip) and wife Laura, Gregory Brett Schiller (Brett) and wife Brooke; two grandchildren, Cate and Wilson Schiller and two sisters-in-law, Betty Fisher Bowers and husband John and Barbara Fisher Schlosser.
Born on a farm near Junction City, Kansas to Frank and Cora Schiller, he attended first through eighth grade at Kansas Falls one-room school as the only student in his class. After graduating from Junction City High School in 1950, Clarke attended Kansas State University where he earned a B.S. in physical and biological science followed by a M.S. in school administration/school planning. While in college, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and the Air Force ROTC.
Following college, Clarke served as an officer in the 39th Bomb Squadron in the 6th Bomb Wing stationed at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, New Mexico where he met his future wife, June Fisher. They were married in 1958.
After resigning from the Air Force, Clarke began a career in education, first teaching science in Junction City Junior High School. Then as Principal, he opened two different elementary schools on Fort Riley Army Post--Jefferson and Custer Hill. In 1965 he enrolled in graduate school at Stanford University to complete a Doctorate in School Administration/School Planning. Later Clarke served as Principal of Silvendale Middle School in Franklin McKinley School District and Montgomery Elementary in Evergreen School District in San Jose, California. He retired at age 70 as Director of Planning in Evergreen.
His many activities included: President of the Junction City Teacher’s Association; President of the Junction City Jaycees who built a public golf course under his leadership; President of Junction City Knife and Fork Club; CoPresident of PTA of Garland School in Palo Alto; Coach, Manager, and President of Palo Alto Little League, 48-year member of Elks Club, member SIRS #35, and a 53-year supporter of many Stanford sports and of the Stanford Buck Club.
With his greatest love, his family, he traveled once a year for the last seventeen years to a various locals including Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan Island, etc. After retirement, Clarke and his wife traveled often to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and extensively in the U.S. including several times a year to their farm in Kansas, where he was born.
In May his family will celebrate Clarke’s life with family and friends with a tailgate party under the Schiller Oak Tree in Lot 2 at Stanford, where for more than 40 years, for each home football game, he came early to save the space and orchestrate the tailgate party.
In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations to the Stanford Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Endowment Fund, 400 Hamilton Ave, Suite 340, Palo Alto, CA 94301.