Obituary for Andrew Thomas Schaich
Andrew Thomas Schaich, 25, of Old Fort, NC, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.
Andrew was born in Asheville, NC on April 14, 1997, to the late Norman Vincent Schaich and his surviving mother, Michele Miller Schaich of the home. He was a graduate of McDowell High School (2015) and North Greenville University (2019) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in International Business and received the Outstanding International Business Student of 2019-2020 award. After graduation from NGU, Andrew followed his dad’s footsteps and joined the United States Army. He obtained top-security clearance to become a French Linguist in Intelligence. He studied at the Department of Defense Language Institute at El Presidio in Monterey, California where he learned French. Andrew was tri-lingual, having learned Spanish at the proficiency level of a native speaker.
Andrew loved to work out, help native Spanish and French speakers worldwide practice English through the Hello Talk app, travel, fish, collect baseball memorabilia, and watch his beloved Atlanta Braves. He enjoyed spending time with his mom and the two were very close. He also enjoyed trips to New York City to visit his lovely girlfriend, Yrene.
In early 2022, Andrew was honorably discharged from the Army due to medical reasons. His higher-ups were so impressed with him, that he was recommended for the Chapter 31 program where the Army paid for his master’s degree in Global Security from Arizona State University. While Andrew was in online graduate school, he began substitute teaching with Buncombe County Schools. It quickly became apparent that Andrew was gifted in teaching elementary, middle school, and high school students. Andrew was able to balance a “tough-love” approach with high expectations for behavior with genuine care for the students. Many teachers and administrators commented on the way “Mr. S” handled even challenging classes. One class of middle-schoolers even collected money to give him $40, which he explained he could not keep. The students told him they liked the way he taught them so much, he deserved a tip. Andrew could see that God was calling him into education. He accepted a position as an assistant in a Spanish immersion program at Eastfield Global Magnet School in Marion, NC to further explore a career in education.
In addition to being survived by his mother, Michele Miller Schaich, Andrew is survived by his paternal uncle, Chris Schaich, Vicki (aunt) and Tommy Caldwell. He is also survived by his maternal uncle and aunt, Eric and Deborah Miller, and cousins Mitchell, Mandy, and Stephen. He leaves behind a girlfriend, Yrene Carrero of New York.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, July 22, 2022, at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Black Mountain, NC. The family will receive friends immediately afterward.
Memorial donations may be made to the Andrew T. Schaich Scholarship Fund, First Baptist Church Black Mountain, NC.
Andrew was born in Asheville, NC on April 14, 1997, to the late Norman Vincent Schaich and his surviving mother, Michele Miller Schaich of the home. He was a graduate of McDowell High School (2015) and North Greenville University (2019) where he earned a bachelor’s degree in International Business and received the Outstanding International Business Student of 2019-2020 award. After graduation from NGU, Andrew followed his dad’s footsteps and joined the United States Army. He obtained top-security clearance to become a French Linguist in Intelligence. He studied at the Department of Defense Language Institute at El Presidio in Monterey, California where he learned French. Andrew was tri-lingual, having learned Spanish at the proficiency level of a native speaker.
Andrew loved to work out, help native Spanish and French speakers worldwide practice English through the Hello Talk app, travel, fish, collect baseball memorabilia, and watch his beloved Atlanta Braves. He enjoyed spending time with his mom and the two were very close. He also enjoyed trips to New York City to visit his lovely girlfriend, Yrene.
In early 2022, Andrew was honorably discharged from the Army due to medical reasons. His higher-ups were so impressed with him, that he was recommended for the Chapter 31 program where the Army paid for his master’s degree in Global Security from Arizona State University. While Andrew was in online graduate school, he began substitute teaching with Buncombe County Schools. It quickly became apparent that Andrew was gifted in teaching elementary, middle school, and high school students. Andrew was able to balance a “tough-love” approach with high expectations for behavior with genuine care for the students. Many teachers and administrators commented on the way “Mr. S” handled even challenging classes. One class of middle-schoolers even collected money to give him $40, which he explained he could not keep. The students told him they liked the way he taught them so much, he deserved a tip. Andrew could see that God was calling him into education. He accepted a position as an assistant in a Spanish immersion program at Eastfield Global Magnet School in Marion, NC to further explore a career in education.
In addition to being survived by his mother, Michele Miller Schaich, Andrew is survived by his paternal uncle, Chris Schaich, Vicki (aunt) and Tommy Caldwell. He is also survived by his maternal uncle and aunt, Eric and Deborah Miller, and cousins Mitchell, Mandy, and Stephen. He leaves behind a girlfriend, Yrene Carrero of New York.
A celebration of life service will be held Friday, July 22, 2022, at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Black Mountain, NC. The family will receive friends immediately afterward.
Memorial donations may be made to the Andrew T. Schaich Scholarship Fund, First Baptist Church Black Mountain, NC.