Gerald Anthony Schroeder

June 24, 1946 - December 11, 2023

An older white man with grey hair and wire frame glasses wears a blue polo and smiles at the camera

Gerald Anthony Jerry Schroeder passed away on December 11, 2023, in northern Virginia. He was born June 24, 1946, in Indianapolis, IN, the only child of the late Ruth Lauck Schroeder and the late Anthony Schroeder. Raised in Indianapolis, he graduated from St. Louis Seminary Preparatory High School (1964), Georgetown University (1969), and Indiana University Law School (1972.) He also attended Mill Hill Seminary, Albany, NY (1964-1965.)

In 1969, he was commissioned a 2LT in the U.S. Army and deferred military service until he graduated from Indiana University Law School. He was promoted to CPT and trained at the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General School, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. He was assigned, and served for four years, as a Judge Advocate General plaintiff's attorney in the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC. His military decorations include the National Defense Service Ribbon and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Following military service, Mr. Schroeder had a distinguished thirty–three–year legal career in the U.S. Department of Justice where he served in the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act Office (FOIPA), the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review (OIPR), and finally as the Deputy Director of the Office of Security and Emergency Planning Staff (SEPS.) While serving in OIPR, he was appointed as Acting Director by U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

During college, he pledged the Mu Alpha Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO – a national coed service fraternity) and served as Georgetown's chapter President and eventually was elected as the National President of the fraternity from 1990–1994. Forever a loyal Hoosier, his passion was the Indianapolis 500 which he attended almost every year for over fifty years with twenty of his closest friends with whom he shared his enthusiasm. He ordered and distributed tickets and turned the annual race into a fun–filled Memorial Day weekend. He was an Indy car racing fan and attended races around the country. His other passion was baseball. In addition to attending many major league baseball games, he volunteered as an Umpire for the McLean and Vienna Little Leagues and eventually trained others to be umpires. He followed all his children's activities and could be seen in the stands, along the sidelines and in the audience.

He is survived by his loving wife of fifty–two years, Elizabeth Addy Schroeder, son Jeffrey Michael (Kayla Louise) Schroeder, daughters Leslie Ann (Brendan) Riggs, and Kathryn Elizabeth Schroeder, grandsons Braedan Riggs and Cameron Schroeder, and granddaughters Avery Riggs, Hannah Schroeder, and New Granddaughter Schroeder due in January. He is also survived by many cousins in Indiana and elsewhere. In addition to family, he leaves behind his life–long friends from Georgetown University and his Fraternity members from the Mu Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Omega.

A celebration of his life will be held at a future date. He will be inurned in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery among his fellow servicemen who served their country.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

McLean Little League (check memo line – Jerry Schroeder Umpire Training Support Program) and send to Frank Witchey, 6921 Pine Crest Avenue, McLean, VA 22101

Alpha Phi Omega (check memo line – In Memory of Jerry Schroeder) Help put more students on more campuses, doing more service recruitment fund. Mail to Alpha Phi Omega, 1441 E. 104th St, Suite 105, Kansas City, MO 64131. Or fill out an online form and mark it in Memory of Jerry.

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A family of white folks all wearing novelty paper glasses with the words Happy Birthday on them and mustaches hanging below smile at the camera while the remnants of a cake sit on the table in front of them
Jerry's 72nd birthday
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An older white man with grey hair and wireframe glasses and an older white woman with brunette hair and brown eyes both smile at the camera. The woman is holding a baby girl who is about 3 months old and sucks on a pacifier
Jerry, Betsy, and granddaughter Hannah
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An older white man with gray hair and wireframe glasses looks to the right towards a middle aged white man with brunette hair. Both are wearing sweaters over a collared shirt. The younger man is the older man's adult son.
Jerry and son Jeff
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An adult woman with brunette hair and hazel eyes smiles at the camera as she sits on the lap of an older white man with gray hair and wireframe glasses. The older man is her father and he looks off camera to the right and smiles a bit awkwardly
Jerry and middle daughter Leslie
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An adult woman with blonde hair pulled into a thick side braid sits on a couch next to an older white man with grey hair and wireframe glasses. They smile at the camera together.
Jerry and youngest daughter Kat
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A family of white people, seven adults and two small children, stand against a wood panelled wall and pose for a family photo.
Leslie, Jerry, Betsy, Brendan, Avery, Kayla, Cameron, Jeff, and Kat