David Ripple Schumaker passed on December 7, 2018 from a heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Schumaker, his daughter, Jasmine Schumaker, grandson Corbin Chilles, and sisters Lee Jilka and Jane Dawson.

David was born June 29, 1940 in Schenectady, New York. He graduated from John Muir High School in Pasadena. He was in the first graduating class at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, then went on to graduate from San Francisco State University with a BA in biology. While at Cabrillo College, he worked for the Watsonville Register Pajaronian newspaper with Sam Vestal, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer. While attending San Francisco State, he worked at the California Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park conducting bird research with Dr. Bill Hamilton.

He had a successful 20 year career as a science teacher and department head at San Lorenzo High School in Felton, California. He worked to develop a curriculum emphasizing critical thinking and scientific methodology. He then served as principal of White Oak High School in Ben Lomond, California. In 1988 he was hired as principal of New Brighton Middle School in Capitola, California. Here he contributed to many innovative programs in critical thinking, cooperative learning, thinking maps and many others. During this time, he also did consulting for many schools in the U.S. and Europe.

He then worked as a director of a consortium for the state of California, coordinating funds and programs for Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties. Next, David was hired as Superintendent for Mountain Valley School District in Hayfork. He continued to bring new educational ideas to the district, and the elementary school became a distinguished school as a result. He was also very involved in Combined Driving, a sport with horses and carriages driving on an obstacle course. While in Hayfork, he hosted the Trinity Combined Driving Event for several years, attended by drivers and horses from all over the West. During this time he also used his vast experience in education, to co-author the book Being A Successful Principal with William Sommers.

He and his wife Pat then retired to McKinleyville, where his life-long interest in birds led him to serve on the board of Godwit Days and volunteer at the bird monitoring station in the Humboldt Bay Bird Observatory. He also pursued his passion for photography, exhibiting his photos in various local shows. His great curiosity about the world around him made him an avid participant in everything he touched. His good humor, enthusiasm, and very outgoing personality made him many friends and he will be greatly missed by all.

There will be a Celebration of Life for David on Sunday, April 14, 2019 from 3-5 p.m. at Merryman’s Beach House on Moonstone Beach, in Trinidad. If you wish, bring pictures of David and memories to share. For information, call (707) 834-1928.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of David Schumaker’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.