Robbert J. Schuller

He and his older brother Jack grew up on a plantation, where the two were homeschooled. At a young age, he became a Japanese prisoner-of-war, along with his mother, and that experience, which included being separated from his father and brother, shaped the person he would become.

The family reunited after WWII in Thailand before moving to the Netherlands, where Robbert graduated from college with a four-year degree in engineering. Importantly, he was in the Dutch Navy for two years and was a pilot for the United Nations.

While employed by Big Dutchman, Robbert met his future-wife, Suzy—then living in Cairo—on a work trip to Egypt. The two were married there in 1962, and Robbert became a US citizen by choice, naturalized in 1964—the same year that he and Suzy welcomed their first child, Monica, followed shortly thereafter by their son, Peter.

The Schuller family moved from Connecticut to Illinois to Wisconsin before eventually settling in Newport Beach, California, where the children were raised and where Suzy still resides over fifty years later. A community fixture, Robbert was a big supporter of local sports, even starting a summer swim team, in which both his children were involved. Attending sporting events and theme parks with them was a favorite pastime of his.

An international sales and marketing executive for over thirty years (his places of business included Myers-Sherman, Giddings & Lewis, and Excellon Automation), Robbert retired decades ago but stayed busy consulting. Additionally, he was an active member of Rotary International, one of the world's largest service organizations, and enjoyed meeting members from around the globe. (At one time, he spoke seven languages, including Indonesian, Dutch, Spanish, German, English, and French, which his wife also speaks.)

Robbert had an immense love for travel, and family trips included visits to Hong Kong, Thailand, Europe, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Later in life, he and Suzy continued to seek out adventure in Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Cuba, Greece, Italy, and Croatia, to name a few. They especially loved taking cruises to warm destinations.

Robbert is survived by his wife, Suzy, his daughter, Monica, his son, Peter, and his older brother, Jack, along with extended family members and longtime friends on every continent, who will all miss him dearly.

A celebration of life service for Robbert will be held Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Pacific View Memorial Park, 3500 Pacific View Drive, California 92625.

A champagne brunch celebration to follow at the Davis’ family home.