Peter Schran

Peter Schran, 86, of Marco Island, FL passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Peter was born in Berlin, Germany on September 10, 1930. WWII tore him away from him from home and marked his childhood by hardships of the time. He spent the war in Rügen, Germany and later in Denmark, with his Humboldt-Gymnasium school classmates, separated from his family.

Peter first came to America as an exchange student. During this time in Chicago, a love for his to-be-adopted country was born, including a deep and abiding affection for Dixieland Jazz. He came back to the States as a Fulbright Scholar at Washington University in St Louis. During that visit, in the winter of 1953, Peter met his beloved wife, Cathryn "Tina". The couple married on New Year’s Eve 1955 in Berlin, enjoying 53 years of happy life together.

Peter received a Diploma in Political Economy from the Free University of Berlin in 1954, a PhD in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1961. He served as an assistant professor of Economics at Yale University 1961-1965. He joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1965, retiring in 1999 as a Professor of Economics and East Asian Languages and Cultures. He loved research and teaching, working with international students and colleagues, and traveling frequently to Japan and China.

After his retirement in 1999, Peter and Tina moved to Shipp's Landing, Marco Island. They spent summers in Greece, Tina’s native country, traveling to visit family and friends. In recent years, Peter enjoyed annual reunions with his school classmates in Germany.

Peter and Tina adored Marco Island, especially the stunning Gulf view outside their window. Peter loved collecting shells on beach with Tina. His grown grandchildren remember beach walks with their grandparents who taught them the names of the shells, and the bounty they used to bring back north to share with friends at school.

In winter, Peter gave updates to his family and friends up North on manatee, dolphins, and birds he could see from his balcony. Later in life, Peter coped with near total blindness. Even though he could no longer see what was swimming or flying past him, he never lost good cheer. Throughout his life, he bore burdens with remarkable stoicism, setting an example that shall never be forgotten.

He is survived by his children, Mary Ann Schran of Harrington Park, NJ and Steven Michael Schran of Jamaica Plain, MA; his brother, Henning Schran and sisters, Dorte Schulz and Ina Lenzner, all of Berlin, Germany. His greatest joy was his six grandchildren – Jonathan Pearson of Chicago, IL, Katherine Pearson of Seattle, WA, Emily Pearson of Harrington Park, NJ; Twyla, Ruby, and Phivos Schran of Jamaica Plain, MA.

A memorial service and life celebration will be held on July 30th at Shipp's Landing. Memorials may be made in Peter’s name to Habitat For Humanity of Collier County, 11145 Tamiami Trail E, Naples, FL 34113
.

 Service Information