John Reicher Schneckenberg Obituary

Mike Woods '84 posted a photo:

Mike Woods '84 said:

John was the most unique guy I met in High School. We became quick friends and eventually like brothers.
Among some of his notable antics; wearing the mask of (Swedish wrestler/actor) Tor Johnson in halls between classes, with me and Chris Harper coming up with our own spirit week (days like Day the Dead walked dress as Zombie, Take off eh! Day come as your favorite knob from up North, favorite Rocker day, Toga day, and doppelgänger day.
He was a tall guy and one of only two or three with full beard and mustache. I recall in gym before I knew him the coach doing roll call says,” John Schn Schnack en schnackebERG?!”, to which John replied “That’s Schnackenberg Mr Wo HoHoHoJo kowski!” Lol!
He drove a 66 Dodge Charger painted 73 Corvette Metalic Granny Apple green. It had an 8 track tape player and he’d only play stuff from 66 and older! We loved Gary Larsen and Stephen King, the RAMONES, KISS, Iron Maiden, Motown, funk, punk, and New Wave. He got me into The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Buckaroo Banzai, reading more, Jack London, and more. We read every Stephen King book from Carrie to Silver Bullet and Pet Semetary.
We loved horror movies especially Zombie ones. We saw, Four Tops and the Four Seasons,Steve Winwood and Jimmy Cliff together, Little Shop of Horrors off broadway in Boston 1985 or 6. He was good at basketball as was his younger brother Jeff, who played for his team in Boston.
We worked together at Wakenhut Security Dulles Airport until we got jobs with Continental Airlines. I got accepted to VCU School of Art, and moved to RVA. He transferred to Continental in Denver where he moved. (He once led a team of sled dogs over 100 mile in winter in Alaska!) It was hiking in mountains one day before work where he fell and lost his life. At his death I was four months into my first year and we had just sent each other long letters with lengthy cartoons and mix tapes. I wondered if he received mine in time. The tape he made for me was filled with circus sounding tunes, annoying vocals, and ant song I ever said I loathed! I cracked up when I first played it! His passing crushed me.
I wondered at all future significant life goals how it would’ve been to have him there, how proud he would’ve been of his brother with a career in both the USArmy and the USAir Force.
I know he wouldn’t have gone to any of the reunions cause he thought most of the class of 1984 was filled with idiots. He probably was right.