David Schad remembered
It is with great sadness that we report that David Schad, a long standing trustee at Sutton Mencap, passed away on 20th August. Mavis Peart, Sutton Mencap’s chairman, has written her appreciation of David.
David has been a much valued Trustee of Sutton Mencap since 2006, following on from his sister, Joan. Sutton Mencap has benefitted for more than 60 years from having a Schad devoting their time and energy to supporting people with learning disabilities and their carers.
All those who have known David will have been very deeply saddened and indeed shocked by his death. He was very much admired for his commitment to this cause. This was led him, after his retirement to become not only Trustee but to pursue a diverse range of committees, partnerships and close to his heart, chairing the Carers’ Forum. His contributions to any large meeting or small group were always relevant, as he had so much personal experience of the issues affecting any family with a son, daughter or sibling with a learning disability among its members. People always listened to him and when required his experiences in his working life as a union representative were always helpful. He was a skilled and willing advocate who was prepared to give his support and advice to anybody who needed help.
What endeared David to the members of the various committees upon which he served was not only his expertise but his ability to put forward his own views with clarity and without rancour if anyone disagreed with him. Never an angry argument but instead patience and humour. On a lighter note, what also endeared him to us was his hast - almost a weather forecast - tweed when it was cold and wet, straw on a sunny day!
In his own commitment and devotion to his own voluntary service, David was also very aware of huge contribution of the professional staff whose daily work was to organise and carry out the many services provided by Sutton Mencap, the Carers’ Centre, other organisations and the Council. He was a frequent visitor to Mencap’s office with a cheery word and a tin of biscuits, wearing his hat of course!
So, David was a much loved and respected friend and colleague. There must be hundreds of people in Sutton who have benefitted from his involvement in their lives. He will be very much missed but long remembered.
Mavis Peart, Chairman of Sutton Mencap