Boris “Red” Schulz, 92, died June 6, 2005 in Everett. “Red,” as most knew him, was born August 16, 1912 in the Russian Empire. He emigrated through Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay in 1916 becoming a U.S. citizen in 1922. He attended San Francisco schools and graduated from the University of Calif., Berkeley in 1935. He worked as a cable spinner during construction of the Bay Bridge and then went to sea, sailing on merchant and passenger ships all over the world until the U. S. entered WW II.
During WW II he served as Engineer in U.S. Merchant Marines surviving several combat situations while at sea in the South Pacific. He completed his military service as an officer and instructor at the U.S. Maritime Service training facility in Catalina Island. He then became a Steam Boiler Inspector covering Northern California for Hartford Insurance. In 1948 he went to Australia and began and managed that country’s first launderette. He and his first wife, Feleni, and children returned to California in 1953 and settled in Marin where he entered the real estate profession.
He was a real estate broker for many years in California, Hawaii, and Washington. He was the President of the Marin County (CA) Real Estate Board in 1967. He was also an educator teaching real estate adult education classes in Marin County and remedial education to prisoners in San Quentin Prison.
Red was a resident of Whidbey Island since 1982, moving from Hawaii with his then wife, Jean, to Penn Cove. After becoming a widower in 1993, he moved to Oak Harbor. He and his dancing partner, Helen McLaughlin, became prominent members of Whidbey’s ballroom dance community. During the 1990’s, Red was a familiar sight in Oak Harbor taking his pug dog Benson for daily walks.
He is survived by a son, Thomas J. and spouse Nancy Schulz of Pollock Pines, Calif.; a daughter, Loloma R. Schulz of San Francisco; two step-daughters, Marsha Blank and Diane Baglion, both of Rohnert Park, Calif.; a sister, Betty Guy of San Francisco; and a special friend, Helen McLaughlin of Oak Harbor. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Heather (James) Roberson of Pleasanton, Calif., Peter Schulz of Australia, Jason (Tiffany) Schulz of Concord, Calif., Brittanee Blank of Rohnert Park; and two great-grandchildren, Cauley Schulz of Concord and Benjamin Roberson of Pleasanton.
A reception celebrating his life was held June 10 at the Oak Harbor Senior Center. Another memorial reception will be held in San Francisco with date, time, and location to be determined. For additional information call: 415-282-3497 in San Francisco, or 360-675-1597, Oak Harbor. Memorial contributions in the name of Boris can be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
