Death of Silver Owl Theodor Schuchat

Theodor Schuchat, a journalist and 32-year member of the National Press Club, died Dec. 5 at his home in Seattle of heart failure. He was 91. Schuchat's dedication to writing prompted him to change his name, recalled his brother, David Schuchat, also a Club member. He dropped the "e" at the end of his first name and his middle initial "L" so that his byline would fit on stories he wrote as editor of his high school newspaper in Baltimore.

Schuchat was raised in Baltimore and was a graduate of The New School in New York City. He mixed his journalism career with government service, often freelancing during 32 years of work for various federal agencies. He had a longtime association with Nelson Rockefeller, for whom he worked in the early 1950's when Rockefeller was Under Secretary of the newly created Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He wrote speeches for Rockefeller and other political figures and drafted the 1964 Surgeon General's report on the health hazards of smoking.

Theodor Schuchat was a pioneer columnist for newspapers and magazines on aging, retirement and education issues. He was the author of several books, including "Planning the Rest of Your Life" and "Ulpan: How to Learn Hebrew in a Hurry." He was the first president of Temple Micah, a Washington synagogue he helped organize.

"He was very proud of being a member of the National Press Club," said his brother David Schuchat. He once had a office in the Press Building and would bring his sons to the Club on Saturdays to play pool.

He was drafted into the Army in 1942. David Schuchat said his brother "spent all his time in school" being trained on quickly evolving radar systems. He kept making the cut for higher training and World War II ended before he could be assigned to a post. He was a member of the the Club's American Legion Post 20.

Theordor Schuchat, who for many years maintained a home in Seattle, moved to that area permanently in 2005, after the death of his wife, Louise Gamble Harper.