Philip S. Schultz

Born on October 21, 1953, in Mineola, New York to parents, Philip Snyder Schultz Sr. and Patricia Lou Pomeroy Schultz. Preceded in death by his mother and father, and stepfather Richard Paul Doetkott. Survived by his brother John Karl Schultz; sisters Laura Elizabeth Broussard and Wendy Doetkott Rogan; brother-in-law’s Casey Kevin Broussard and Dylan Thomas Rogan; niece’s Jaqulynn Nichole Ardigo and Grace Joanna Pinkerton; nephews Devon James Rogan and Nicholas Christian Broussard.

Philip grew up in Orange and attended Villa Park High School. He was highly active in the Orange Acres Backbreakers 4-H Club and had many prize-winning entries at the Orange County Fair. He went on to attend Chapman University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. Upon graduation, Philip entered the Peace Corps as a volunteer in the rural pilot school of Honduras in Central America. While in Honduras, Philip initiated agricultural projects, taught agronomy to both teachers and students in the primary school and taught English classes in the evenings. It was during his time in the Peace Corps that he became fluent in Spanish.

After leaving the Peace Corps, Philip embarked on many adventures. His travels took him through Mexico, Central and South America and Asia. He often regaled us with stories from his travels, some funny and some scary, but all interesting. Even after all these exploits he had not satisfied his itch for adventure and he accepted a position in Gales Point, Belize, managing a citrus farm. He excelled at farming but eventually tired of the difficulties of living in a foreign country and made the trip back home to California.

Upon returning, he employed the knowledge he gained on the citrus farm and accepted a position with the Orange County Sherriff’s Department at the James A. Musick Honor Farm. He taught the inmates on the farm about agriculture and poultry. He was interested in helping them turn their lives around.

He ultimately left farming behind and focused his attention on education. He got his foot in the door as an aid at Richland High School and put his language skills to use as a translator for the Orange Unified School District. His first teaching position was at Yorba Middle School as an English teacher where he was creative, innovative, and beloved. Here, he forged many lifelong friendships. Next, he worked as the District Coordinator for the Community Based Tutoring Program (C-BET). The program focused on bilingual parents within the district to assist them and their children in school. This program helped generations of students succeed educationally.

Philip pursued higher studies and earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Cal State Fullerton. He concluded his teaching career at Portola Middle School in Orange, California. He taught at Portola for twelve years. He was an English Language Development Teacher and Coordinator, serving as an English Language Development curricular trainer for other teachers within the district. In the classroom, he quickly became one of the students’ most popular teachers. His genuine interest in every student always shone through, and he nurtured and encouraged them to see themselves succeeding in life. The ripple effect from those he mentored will be felt for generations. He retired from teaching in June of 2021.

Philip put just as much energy into his friendships, many of which have spanned decades. He loved listening to live music and enjoyed playing the guitar. He delighted in preparing delicious meals for family and friends. Cooking in the kitchen with Philip was a lot of fun, a little messy, but fun, and the result was always spectacular. He enjoyed hiking and birding (especially at Newport Back Bay), and was a voracious reader of mysteries, thrillers, and history. Philip made his mark on the world and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at his residence in Orange.