Popular political science department member passes away at 75
The university community mourns the loss of faculty emeritus Paul Schroeder who passed away on July 20, 2024, after a short illness.
Professor Schroeder spent 16 years in the Department of Political Science. A popular colleague and teacher, and a politics of China specialist, he taught the introduction to international politics as well as a cluster of seminars on Asia and the Global South, most of which he had created himself. In the fall of 2022, he graciously came out of retirement to cover some of his former courses.
“That’s the kind of dedicated educator Paul was—completely devoted to his students,” said Professor Elliot Posner, Chair of the Department of Political Science. “We were having trouble finding an Asia politics expert to cover his courses. He stepped back in because he couldn’t stand the idea that a cohort of CWRU undergraduates might not have the chance to learn about China politics.”
Jason Cheung (CWR ‘16) remembered how Schroeder made an impact on him as a student that still resonates with him to this day.
“As a student from Hong Kong amid the political turmoil in my hometown, he served as my academic and personal mentor, guiding me to view my home country critically,” Cheung said. “Taking his class helped me develop my critical thinking and shaped my academic career. [He] will forever be missed.”
Schroeder’s life was equally impactful outside of his academic career. He and his wife, Rosemary Palmer, gained a national reputation for their Families of the Fallen for Change, an anti-Iraq war peaceful protest group that they created to honor their son, who was killed in Iraq in 2005. As part of that, he worked with senior members of Congress to develop policy alternatives.
Schroeder earned his PhD in 1987 from the Ohio State University in the politics of China. Prior to his academic career, he was a journalist covering police, city, county and state government for several Ohio newspapers. Schroeder also served on the staff of the National Committee on US—China Relations in New York, managing programs in law and economics.
An avid gardener, Schroeder is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rosemary, two sisters, son-in-law, David (Nicole Cornett) Borger, and four grandsons, Nicholas, Paul and Nathan Borger and Tyler Cefalo. He was preceded in death by his son Augie and daughter Amanda. He will be remembered for his educational stamina, personal courage, warmth and wisdom. Case Western Reserve University is much diminished with his passing.
A memorial service was held at the Church of the Savior, United Methodist Church in Cleveland Heights on Aug. 13.