Edward Jacob Schuler
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Edward Jacob “Jake” Schuler, 78, of Olmstedville, died April 8, 2025, in Ithaca. Jake was born July 8, 1946, in Niskayuna, the son of Edward H. and Bertha (Fensken) Schuler. He graduated from Niskayuna High School in 1964. After attending Paul Smith’s College and Wagner College, Jake embarked on a 40-year career in education as a teacher, principal and superintendent. He was instrumental in securing the bond that allowed BOCES in Saranac Lake to be built. Jake then went on to spend many years as a principal and then the superintendent of schools in Northern Vermont. He was a strong believer in helping students find their individual strengths and paths to success and took great pride in helping and supporting the students in his district.
He was an avid skier and continued to participate in the profession on a part-time basis throughout his lifetime. During the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, Jake served as the assistant chief of course referees, in charge of mapping all downhill ski events. Jake was a high school ski coach, senior alpine official and traveled to ski areas all over the northeast as a level 4 technical delegate. In the early 1990s, Jake was named VARA alpine official of the year and USSA eastern alpine official of the year. Along with Dean and Dale Lumbra, Jake founded Off Brothers Racing, which became “the name” in ski racing at Jay Peak Resort in Vermont. This ragtag team used their talents to make ski racing happen in both sanctioned and promotional races. Eventually settling in Olmstedville, he continued officiating and volunteering his free time to NYSSRA to help any way he could, from refereeing a race to helping tear down at the end of the event.
Jake was predeceased by both of his parents and is survived by his beloved wife Barbara; two daughters, Amy Schuler of Saranac Lake, and Erin (Richard) Crossley of Bloomfield Hills, MI; three step-daughters, Jill Browning of Ithaca, Pam (Stephen) Jacobs of Richford, Vermont and Christine (Will) Clark of Belleville, Illinois; 10 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and his first wife, Lorraine Kelley.