Richard F. Schneider

Richard F. (Dick) Schneider, 78, successful entrepreneur, respected leader, and incredibly loved head of the Schneider family, passed peacefully on March 27, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. Dick was an 18-year resident of Fort Lauderdale and formerly of Long Island, NY.

Born September 13, 1939 in Queens, NY, Dick grew up in N. Bellmore, NY. He graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of New York University in Brooklyn with an Engineering degree and as a leader in the ROTC. He served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and then started his lifelong career in manufacturing. Fulfilling his goal of starting his own company, he built a very successful, custom injection molding business over a span of 28 years. Tri-Molded Plastics, Inc. (Tri-M) in Bayshore, NY employed 300 at its peak. A fearless and incredibly fair leader, he was a down-to-earth guy with an open-door policy. Affectionately known as "RFS," he earned the respect of all of his employees with his candor and desire to help each reach their full potential.

Dick's love of engineering had him constantly building and improving things - from antique cars to launching a robotics company that delivered products faster to his customers. He seemingly owned every electronic gadget known to mankind and never stopped learning throughout his life.

As the much loved patriarch of his family, he encouraged his children and grandchildren "to be leaders, not followers." His unmatched work ethic and non-negotiable principles are legacies that will live on in the lives of each person he touched. Dick was predeceased by his wife, Patricia Ferri Schneider, in 2010.

Survived by his devoted wife, Dianne Lewis Schneider, his 6 children: Michael (Donna) of Oakdale, NY; Scott of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Cynthia (Dave) Franchak of Severna Park, MD; Kevin (Karen) of Dover, NH; Bill (Janine) of Holbrook, NY; Kat (Dave) Fotheringham of Wake Forest, NC, and loving "Pop" to 16 grandchildren: Meghan, Mike, Scott, Olivia, Matt, Katie, Jenny, Kelly, Kayla, Tyler, Nick, Matt, CC, Sawyer, Quinn, Nolan. Also survived by his 2 stepdaughters: Jennifer (Allen) Carroll of Rehoboth Beach, DE and Christina Canouse of Roswell, GA and his sister, Barbara (Bob) Mehl of The Villages, FL.

Visitation at Fred Hunter's Funeral Home, 718 S. Federal Hwy, Ft. Lauderdale, Monday, April 2nd, 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1500 S. State Road 7, North Lauderdale, on Tuesday, April 3rd at 11:00 am, with entombment to follow. Reception to follow at 1:30 pm at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in his memory. See links above and below.