Captain Robert Joseph Schollard, 77, U.S. Public Health Service (Ret.), passed away on Sept. 25 in Newcastle, with his loving family by his side. He was a native of Worcester, Mass., son of the late Joseph John Schollard and Winifred Marie Murray.
Capt. Schollard received his B.S. in Pharmacy in 1960 from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and his Masters in Public Health from the University of North Carolina School of Public Health in Chapel Hill in 1971. In 1960 he entered the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) as a commissioned officer, Ensign, and retired from active service in 1988 as Captain. During his 28 years he was assigned to direct health service positions in Baltimore, Staten Island, N.Y., Washington, D.C., Miami and Boston.
Other assignments took Captain Schollard to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the USPHS Regional Office in Atlanta. He was also assigned to the State of North Carolina Office of Rural Health working on state and federally funded rural health programs.
After retirement from the USPHS, he joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy as clinical associate professor and was Associate Director of the NC Pharmacy AHEC Program from 1988-1997. In 1997, he joined the faculty at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences as an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and coordinated Experiential Education Programs.
Captain Schollard was a member of numerous state and national professional associations and was awarded the USPHS Commendation Medal in 1985 for his work with the National Health Service Corps and the USPHS Unit Commendation in 1987 for work in rural health programs in the Southeastern United States. He was a life member of the Association of Military Surgeons. He served as President of the USPHS Commissioned Officers Association in 1982-1983. He was a licensed pharmacist in Massachusetts, Maine and North Carolina.
In 2003, Captain Schollard entered semi retirement, joining the pharmacy staff at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta. He joined the Lions Club in Waldoboro and became co-director of the St. Patrick Food Pantry and member, board of directors, Ecumenical Food Pantry in Newcastle. He traveled extensively with his beloved wife, Gwen to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, China, Egypt, South Africa, Ireland, numerous countries in western Europe and annual stateside visits to Florida and Hawaii.
He enjoyed playing golf, reading history and historical novels and keeping up with state and national politics. In later life he was an avid conservative always advocating small government, a strong military, few regulations and a strong private sector.
He is survived by his wife, Gwendolen Jae Schollard; children, Catherine Mary Sarrasin and husband David, Donna Jeanne Vickery and husband Roger, Patrick Joseph Schollard and wife Anissa, and John Frederick Schollard and wife Catherine; sister, Anne Tebow and husband Larry; brother, Paul Schollard and wife Brett; grandchildren, Thomas, Christopher, Laura, Emma, Ethan, Megan, Shannon, Tessa, Haley and Luke; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours will be held from 6-8 p.m., Thurs., Oct. 1 at Hall Funeral Home in Waldoboro. Funeral mass will take place at 11 a.m., Fri., Oct. 2 at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle.
Donations may be made in Robert’s name to the USPHS Commissioned Officers Association, 8201 Corporate Dr., Suite 200, Landover, MD 20785; or St. Patrick’s Church of Newcastle, P.O. Box 598, Newcastle, ME 04553.
You are invited to share your condolences with the family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
