Dr. John K. Schindler Obituary (1937 - 2025)

Dr. John K. Schindler (Jay), 87, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of the late Barbara A. (Bernardi) Schindler with whom he shared 61 years of marriage until her passing. Jay was born in Chicago, IL, on September 25, 1937 and was the son of the late Dr. John Andrew Schindler, a United States Air Force Flight Surgeon and Bessie Mae (Kerner) Schindler. As part of an Air Force family, Jay grew up in many communities in the United States and abroad. He graduated from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School and received his SB degree from MIT and his MS and PhD degrees from Purdue University. He married the love of his life, Barbara, in September 1960 and together they welcomed three children and two grandchildren. Dr. Schindler had a long and distinguished career. Following a tour as an officer in the Air Force, he joined the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratory, serving as a staff member and in several managerial positions to develop advanced electronic technology for the Air Force. Dr. Schindler was the Senior Executive Service Director with the Air Force Rome Laboratory and upon retirement, he was a consultant to the Arcon Corporation. Dr. Schindler was an adjunct professor with the Air Force Institute of Technology and taught graduate courses in engineering and engineering management at Northeastern University. He was widely published within his field. Dr. Schindler received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive and the Fellow Grade and Millennium Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Jay was loyal to family and friends, always with a calm and supportive presence and ready to lend a helping hand. He cherished life moments, attending every school event of his children and grandchildren, coaching soccer, driving to early morning hockey practices and spending many family vacations camping in New Hampshire, Maine and Canada. As a couple, Jay and Barbara got their pilot license and with friends, sailed around the Caribbean and Greek Islands. They also enjoyed trips to the National Parks, Hawaii and Paris before Jay focused all his energy and love to take care of Barbara through Alzheimers. Jay leaves his children Laura Schindler Grant and her husband Douglas of Edinburgh, Scotland, Dietrich Schindler of Roxbury, MA, Kendra Schindler Sheridan and her husband Robert of Milton, MA; his two grandchildren Catriona Grant and Mason Sheridan; his sister-in-law Dorothy Getty of Wilmington, MA; his nephew Mark Getty and his wife Debra of Pelham, NH, Lubelia Getty of Woburn, MA; and three great nieces Arianna Zielinski, Angela Getty and Sienna Getty and many friends and neighbors. Jay was predeceased by his beloved wife Barbara; his parents John Andrew and Bessie Mae Schindler; his parents-in-law Alfred and Mary Bernardi; his sister Bessie Rae Schindler McCormack; his brother-in-law Kenneth Getty; and his nephew David Getty. Visiting Hours will be held on Friday, June 6, 2025, from 5 pm - 7 pm in the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 11:00 am at St. Mary Parish, 25 North Rd., CHELMSFORD. KINDLY MEET AT THE CHURCH. Interment to follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery, CHELMSFORD. Memorial donations may be made in Jay's memory to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Alzheimer's Association or Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.