John Eugene Schulenberg

Family, friends, and colleagues are saddened at the sudden loss of John Schulenberg on February 9, 2023, while visiting family in Jacksonville, Florida. His passing has left us deeply saddened yet we are heartened by our memories of his life and all those he touched. John was a brilliant scholar, a caring friend, and a devoted father, with a huge heart who could make everyone laugh and feel at ease.

John was born in Buffalo, New York to parents Barbara and Eugene Schulenberg. The family relocated to St Clairesville, Ohio when he was in high school. Despite the challenge of moving from the “city” to the “country” he made a smooth adjustment and a lifelong friend in the late Barry Sigmon. John was very close to his family; he shared stories of their many adventures including summers spent at the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey. He leaves behind his siblings Sandy, Jane and Rob, his nieces and nephews (Alison, Billy, Erin, Brett, Ryan, Robbie, Madison) as well as his brother-in-law Bill Rippey and sister-in-law Caroll Connell.

John attended the University of Cincinnati where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He received his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Human Development and Family Studies at The Pennsylvania State University. It was in State College that he fell in love with and married his wife, Cathleen Connell. They started their careers at different universities, John at Purdue and Cathleen at Washington University in St. Louis and later at the University of Kentucky, driving long distances to spend weekends together. Cathleen eventually accepted a position at the University of Michigan and John soon followed, accepting a position at the Institute for Social Research. Since 1989, Ann Arbor has been their home.

John was a distinguished, respected, and accomplished scholar. He spent much of his career collaborating on the Monitoring the Future Study, a national study of drug and alcohol use among adolescents. He authored or co-authored hundreds of articles, several books and book chapters, and countless presentations. During his career, he collaborated with colleagues across campus, across the country, and around the world. He especially enjoyed working with and mentoring his graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. He was proud to have been elected president of the Society for Research on Adolescence in 2014 and was a Fellow of Divisions 7 (Developmental Psychology) and 50 (Addictions) of the American Psychological Association.

By far, John was most proud of his two children, Clayton and Franny. He talked about them often to his friends, usually followed by “am I talking about my kids too much?” With Clayton, he shared a love of sports, especially baseball and golf. They enjoyed a special type of light hearted competition and humor. John often said Franny was much smarter than him, but she also kept him grounded. With Franny, he shared a love of solving Nancy Drew mysteries and playing frisbee and board games. Over the years, John coached Clayton’s Ann Arbor Rec and Ed and later travel baseball team. He coached Franny’s Rec and Ed softball team and then her travel team. In their entire sports careers, he seldom missed a game.

John always thought about others. Before every family trip, he spent countless hours researching hotels and Airbnb options. Next, we would send dozens of possibilities beforehand to each family member, yet he always seemed to know which option was best before they did. He was a supportive colleague and mentor who frequently volunteered to offer his assistance and expertise to others.

In his free time, he loved golf, reading mysteries, and writing fiction. His golfing buddies remember him as a good golfer who had more fun and laughed more on the golf course than anyone else, often at his own expense. He had a great sense of humor and was clever and witty. He had a 20-year golfing tradition with his close friends from Penn State -- Todd Bartko, Adam Garfein, and Phame Camarena. Incredibly, these friends played golf at least once a month, every month, even during the coldest Michigan winters, and he kept all the scorecards to prove it. It was on the golf course that John often showed his creativity and sense of humor, developing the group’s unique set of rules and golfing vernacular, all of which will live on in his memory. John loved to write and spent hours, usually late into the night, writing novels, his imagination unconstrained by reviewers and editors.

John would want everyone who knew him to grieve for just a bit and then celebrate his life by enjoying their own, especially with those they love. As he often joked, “there is no crying in baseball.” Let’s all honor him by cherishing each other each day.

A memorial gathering for John will be held Friday, May 26, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Muehlig Funeral Chapel, 403 S 4th Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104, followed by a celebration of John's life from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in John’s name to one of two local organizations that support youth -- Ann Arbor Rec and Ed athttps://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/aarecedtrainer/donation or the Neutral Zone at neutral-zone.org.