Dr. Rich Schumacher, Peachtree City planning commissioner, dies suddenly

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Dr. Rich Schumacher, Peachtree City planning commissioner, dies suddenly

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Share this Post

Schumacher

was remembered by Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown as a planning commissioner

who "was an extraordinary example to the young men of our community."

"He was

sensitive to the welfare of the families in the subdivisions living near

proposed new developments," Brown said. "He was concerned about

new development causing our schools to be overcrowded. He demanded the

best effort from the developer on every site plan because he loved the

community. He brought a sense of humanity to the technical realm of city

planning."

Schumacher's

medical experience was extensive, ranging from duties as chief of medicine

for Doylestown (Penn.) Hospital and medical director for several insurance

companies. He also served in the U.S. Navy's medical corps as a lieutenant

commander from 1957-1960, where he performed some of the first open heart

surgeries.

Schumacher,

who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout as a youth, volunteered his vacation

time in the 1960s as a physician, providing medical care to the underprivileged

in the Dominican Republic. As an active participant in the civil rights

movement, Schumacher organized and led a busload of participants to the

July 1968 march against poverty in Washington, D.C., bringing along his

13-year-old son, Jim.

In his application

for a second term on the Planning Commission, Schumacher noted the difference

between his service here and that on the Bucks County (Penn.) Planning

Commission in the mid 1970s.

"Our process

in Peachtree City is far more comprehensive, and sensitive to the needs

of our citizens," Schumacher wrote.

In addition

to his service on the Planning Commission, Schumacher was active at Peachtree

City United Methodist Church, where he served as co-chair of the missions

committee and the Habitat for Humanity project.

Schumacher

was voted Layman of the Year in 2001 for the LaGrange District of the

North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Dr. Schumacher

is survived by his wife, Kathy; sons, Eric Goodman, James Schumacher and

Neil Schumacher of Vermont, Craig Schumacher of Arizona; daughter Carol

Schumacher of Colorado; and 6 granddaughters, in addition to his brothers,

Bill Schumacher, Phil Schumacher, and Jim Schumacher.

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