Schauff's Great, Unbroken Circle

Schauff led Catlin Gabel with good humor, optimism, and gusto, by his example fostering civility, cooperation, and involvement. Among his many accomplishments—an open meeting policy, establishment of the senior trip, mentoring teachers and leaders of other schools—he above all set the tone for a strong, warm sense of community and humanity.

 

A New York City native, Schauff attended Williams College before joining the U.S. Navy in 1943. He then attended Black Mountain College in North Carolina, where he met many of the people who would be his friends for life—including his wife, Verna Raattama. For several years they and others from Black Mountain lived on a farm in Estacada, Oregon, with the goal of cooperative living and contributing to a small town. Schauff taught at Estacada High School and led a Boy Scout troop, while earning his BA and MA at Lewis & Clark College.

 

Schauff began working at Catlin Hillside in 1951; he became Catlin Gabel’s headmaster in 1967 and held that position until 1980. In his years at Catlin Gabel he taught 8th grade U.S. history and social studies; coached basketball, track and field, and soccer; led ski trips and camping trips; directed plays; helped to run the Rummage Sale; taught countless students to make a wooden boat or light a Coleman camp stove; and reminded young people over and over to leave a place cleaner than they found it, to shake hands with a firm grip, and to exercise their right to vote. Schauff celebrated Catlin Gabel’s progressive, creative, experiential approach in and out of the classroom. He made each student feel respected and recognized.

 

Schauff’s mark on Catlin Gabel included a de-emphasis on grades. Drawing on his philosophy that students are at the center of education and their voices should be heard, he made the student body president an ex officio member of the board of trustees and brought each year’s president to the NAIS annual conference.

 

After leaving Catlin Gabel Schauff taught middle school at the Bush School in Seattle for many years, and founded the Zushi Kaisei summer program for students from Japan. He was active in the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools and the National Association of Independent Schools. After he finished his career at Bush Schauff helped to found two more schools: Hyla Middle School on Bainbridge Island and Explorer West in West Seattle. Throughout his long career in education he was an inspiration to scores of students and colleagues who remember him vividly today.

 

Everyone who knew Schauff will remember these favorite expressions: “I’ll take three volunteers— you, you, and you,” “Be sure to take care of each other,” “Never put a hot pancake on a cold plate,” “Lady with a baby,” and “The sun always shines on the righteous.” Schauff Circle, at the crossroads of our campus, serves as a reminder of Schauff’s ability to bring together people of all ages and all walks of life.

 

Schauff is survived by his wife, Verna; his daughters, Robin ’68 and Deborah ’70; his son, Allen ’73; and his grandchildren, Robin ’01 and Alex ’06 Macartney. He was the uncle of Will Neill ’71 and cousin of former CG teacher Dave Schauffler, Allen Schauffler ’42 (dec.), Julia Schauffler Bernard ’44, and Christine Schauffer Weitzer ’47 (dec.). The family suggests some good ways to honor Schauff: cook a pancake, chop some wood, ride a ferry, sail a boat, register to vote.  

 

 

In 7th grade a friend and I thought it would be a good idea to draw a funny picture on a porch post at the back of the Middle School. Schauff walked up to us at that moment, looked us each in the eye and said, “Meet me back here at noon.” We were terrified as to what the punishment might mean for us. We arrived at the appointed hour and Schauff proceeded to happily take us on a tour of the school, pointing out to us the original farmhouse wallpaper in the classrooms of the upper school, the beautiful apple trees from the original orchard, and the cared-for books in the library. He asked us if we thought the school would be such a beautiful and special place if the students and teachers didn’t respect it over all those years of the school’s history. His gentle, caring, respectful tour humbled us and taught us more than any punishment ever could have. He was an amazing man!

 

My most vivid memory of Schauff was a sleepy Saturday morning in the early phase of the Rummage Sale. I was in a group of roustabouts over on Thurman, staring incredulously at endless piles of unsorted rummage on several floors, wondering where to even begin. In came Schauff. He gave us a Rummage strategy and tactics pep talk. His engaging, deliberate, eye-to-eye talk motivated us to go about our business with a sense of purpose. . . . That to me sums up the Schauff phenomenon: in just a few words, he made order out of chaos, embraced others with dignity and a human touch that always made them want to be better human beings and allowed them to feel part of a larger, worthwhile cause. It was a deep privilege to know him and be a small part of the Catlin experience he shaped.

 

Schauff on a camping trip near Three Sisters taught me how to sail a boat. I didn’t know how to come back. I ended up on the other side of the lake, but Schauff stayed with me yelling instructions from the other end on how to get back (I thought I was in trouble, it took a while). When I made it back (expecting the worst) he took my hand, grabbed me around the shoulders, smiled and said “good job,” then walked, talked, and laughed with me back to camp.

 

I visited Catlin in the middle of 8th grade. At the end of a long day Sid Eaton asked me what I thought. I pointed out that all the people who worked here looked the same: the guy driving the bus looked like the guy directing traffic and the guy at the track picking up hurdles, and he looks just like the history teacher, Mr. Schauffler.

 

Schauff always had a plan . . . always, and he made you as an individual feel that you were truly the linchpin, that the plan would not work without your participation. Such amazing empowerment for young people.

 

By example and without ever preaching, Schauff somehow helped us come to see what was best. How many of us still ask ourselves, “What would Schauff do?” There can be no greater measure of a legacy than that. He still speaks to each of us, and when we stand up for or lend a hand to others he is there. He lives on within the best of us as individuals and in the best of what we do together.