Lake George, NY - Paul F. Schonewolf, 85 years old and a resident of Assembly Point peacefully passed away on the evening of October 18, 2022 at home surrounded by his loving family after a brief illness.
Born on February 9, 1937 in Buffalo, NY he was the son of the late Robert & Elma (Measer) Schonewolf of Amherst, NY. His father was a very popular teacher at Amherst High School for many years.
Paul was a graduate of Amherst Central High School where he was a member of several championship soccer, basketball and tennis teams. He graduated from Syracuse’s Newhouse School of Communications in 1959 where he was the sports editor of the school’s Daily Orange newspaper. Paul received Honorable Mention All-American honors as the goalie for Syracuse’s soccer team.
On September 3, 1960 Paul married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen (Curry) Schonewolf, which was the beginning of their 62 year loving marriage. Paul worked for General Electric for 26 years in executive marketing positions that enabled Paul and Kathy to move across the northeast to cities such as Pittsfield, MA, Schenectady, NY, Erie, PA, Syracuse, NY, and Niskayuna, NY. His last position was Vice President of General Electric Cablevision Corp, headquartered in Niskayuna, NY. When GE sold their broadcast and cable television business in 1987 Paul started PFS Communications, a consulting business, and Schomann Entertainment, a cable television company with systems in Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and upstate New York. A longtime member of the New York State Cable TV Association Paul also served 6 years as a Director of the National Cable TV Association, headquartered in Washington, DC.
In 1993, Paul sold Schomann Entertainment and retained ownership of Hamilton County TV and Gore Mountain Cable TV and served as President and COO of these companies until 2019. Paul was elected to the National Cable Pioneers club which recognizes individuals with over 25 years of service in the cable industry who have made significant contributions to the growth of the institution.
A dedicated public servant Paul spent 27 years in elected public office in the Town of Niskayuna where he and family resided for 34 years. He was an elected Fire Commissioner for 20 years, 10 as Chairman of the Board, of Fire District One. In 1979 he secured funding, support and equipment to create the County’s first and New York State’s second fire department paramedic unit. Additionally he served for 43 years with the District’s Grand Boulevard Volunteer Fire Company.
Paul was also a member of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs where he served on the Board of Directors for eleven years, including Association President in 2005-2006. He also served as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Region planning committee.
A long time Niskayuna Republican committeeman, Paul was a Town Councilman on the Niskayuna Town Board for four years and a member of the Town’s Zoning Board of Appeals until 2004. He also served on Schenectady County’s 911 advisory committee that originated 911 service in the County. In addition, Paul served on the Town of Queensbury’s Planning Board.
He is survived by his loving wife Kathy (Curry) Schonewolf; daughter Linda Schonewolf O’brien and husband Tim of Niskayuna, NY; son Paul Scott Schonewolf and wife Paula of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; daughter Mary Beth Bobbitt and husband Greg of Niskayuna, NY; and daughter Karen Schonewolf Vijaykumar and husband Karthik (James) of Ballston Lake, NY; grandchildren Alexander Schonewolf of Brookline, MA; Halle O’Brien of Keene, NH; Katie Schonewolf of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Grace Bobbitt Kelly and husband Kevin of Lake George, NY; Kayla O’Brien of Buffalo, NY; Lauren Schonewolf of Cambridge, MA; Christopher Bobbitt of Niskayuna, NY (deceased); Tyler Bobbitt of Boston, MA; Shae O’Brien of Niskayuna, NY; Collin Ashmead-Bobbitt and wife Jackie Bassett of Chicago, IL; Meg Aponte and husband Tony of Palmdale, CA; Ashley O’Brien Burgess and husband Titus of Lynchburg, VA; great grandchildren Autumn Olivia Kelly; Davin Bobbitt; Trip Burgess; Cole Burgess; Anderson Waymire; Graylynn Aponte, Kara Su Aponte; Hadley Aponte; Zowie Aponte
There will be a viewing from 9am – 11am, on Monday, October 24, 2022 at Our Lady of Annunciation, 448 Aviation Rd, Queensbury, NY (exit 19 off I-87), and a mass immediately following.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of the following organizations:
North Queensbury Fire Department
Niskayuna Grand Boulevard Fire District 1
Our Lady of Annunciation, Queensbury, NY