DT: June 6, 2003

TO: Parents of RCS Students and other members of the RCS community

RE: Death of Mr. Tom Schaff, RCHS Math Teacher, and Memorial Service Information

If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11b (NIV)

Greetings!  

(If you are on our "RCS Parents Only" e-mail list or have visited our Web site, some of the following is a repeat. However, the information has been updated and additional information included so please read carefully. Please visit www.rcs.edu.)

My heart breaks as I share with you that Mr. Tom Schaff, first-year math teacher at Redwood Christian High School, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, June 5, 2003. He was found outside his classroom by one our faculty members. CPR was administered, 911 was called and he was transported to San Leandro Hospital where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The coroner has not determined the cause of Mr. Schaff's death. We will post any updates on our Web site at www.rcs.edu.

Mr. Schaff was a kind, gentle, godly man who was respected by his students and co-workers. Please keep Tom's family, especially his two sons (John, RCHS Class of 1990 and Philip, RCHS Class of 1993) and two daughters (Laura, RCHS Class of 2002, and Anna, a junior at RCHS), his extended family, his students, and the school community in your prayers. Mr. Schaff had been a widower for several years and he is now with his dear Carol in Heaven. I praise God for the hope that each one of us can have because of our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.

All end-of-the-year school activities will proceed as scheduled as it is what Tom would want, and it is the desire of Anna.

A memorial service will be held to remember and honor Tom's life on Tuesday, June 10, at
7:00 P.M. at Redwood Chapel Community Church, 19300 Redwood Road, Castro Valley. The entire RCS family is invited.

If you make contributions to RCS in memory of Mr. Schaff, please be sure to write his name on the memo line. I am sure that sometime in the near future we will establish a fund recognizing this wonderful man.

Please visit www.rcs.edu for updates, and please continue to keep Mr. Schaff's family in your prayers. If you are not already on our "RCS Parents Only" e-mail list for school announcements, please e-mail me at BruceJohnson@rcs.edu and you will receive important notices throughout the year.

Blessings!