Alexander King Schaap IV

Alexander was born in Port Jefferson, Long Island, New York on September 13, 1948 to Rose Mary (Plonski) Schaap and Alexander King Schaap, III.

Alex made a lovely life since 1988 with Barbara S. Long and their son, Alexander K. Schaap, 5th (Zander) both of Hanford, CA. Even though, Alex medically retired in 2003, it was the simple things around him in life that he never took for granted, commenting daily how fortunate and grateful he was. Above all, Alex was absolutely devoted to his family.

The Schaap name lives on through his son Zander Schaap, 5th. Alex is survived by his beloved Barbara Long, along with his brother and his wife Walter Schaap and Janis (McElhone) Schaap of Appleton, Wisconsin and extended family and dear friends.

Alex dedicated his life to teaching and Nursing Education and Administration. He graduated with a state Regent’s diploma from Wilson Young High School. After working for one year as a psychiatric attendant at Central Islip State Hospital, he graduated in 1971 as class Valedictorian from their Registered Professional Nursing program. He then entered the State University of New York at Stony Brook and was awarded a BS degree in Nursing in 1972. He taught Nursing Science at Central Islip State Hospital, B.O.C.E. S. School of Practical Nursing, and lectured at S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook.

Moving to Bakersfield, California in 1975, he held the position of Associate Director of Nursing Services at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, followed by Assistant Hospital Administrator in Blythe, CA and Straub Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. Locally, he held Nursing Administrative positions at Corcoran District Hospital, Coalinga Regional Medical Center, and Natividad Medical Center in Salinas, CA.

Many thanks to Leonel Apodaca, MD for his years of expert care and friendship. Thank you to the expansive list of supportive family and friends and to Hanford Adventist Hospital and Hospice. He enjoyed ‘teaching’ his nurses-- up until the end.

Celebration of Alexander’s life will be private.

“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved, we can never lose.

All that we love deeply becomes part of us.”

Helen Keller