May 19, 2018
Hassel Charles Schjelderup, PhD, age 91 who grew up in Courtenay BC, passed away on May 19, 2018, with family by his side. He was preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Rose Servart (Khatchadourian) Schjelderup, his parents Vilhelm and Edith Schjelderup of Courtenay, BC and Brother Col. V. Roger Schjelderup of Courtenay, BC.
He is survived by his big sister Mia Robson of U.K., his 7 children: Bill Schjelderup of SLC, UT, Mia Olsen of Bellingham, Kim McFadden of Mercer Island, WA, Dr. Christine Schjelderup-Free of Portland, OR, Robert Schjelderup, Roger Schjelderup, Katherine Larsen all of Bellingham WA, 21 grandchildren, sister-in-law Ida Schjelderup of UK, nephews Eric Schjelderup of UK, Jim Schjelderup of Norway, David Dorian of Selma, CA and niece Joyce Grover of Fairfax CA.
Dad, known among friends as "DOC or Hass", earned his M.S. and PhD in Engineering from Stanford University where he first met the stunning Stanford graduate student Rose on a blind date. It was love at first sight. They married and settled in Long Beach CA where he began a long and distinguished career in Aerospace Engineering, ultimately as Director of Engineering Technology Materials and Processes for McDonnell Douglas.
As the family grew in numbers, they moved to San Marino, CA for the next 47 years until relocating to be near family in Bellingham in 2006. Dad was an avid fisherman. He looked forward to summer holidays, joining Mom and the 7 of us kids at the Kye Bay cabin in the Comox Valley where he would fish for salmon at every moment possible.
Following his retirement he found his happiness with Rose, sharing in her travel business and traveling the world for over 35 years. Dad shared his enthusiasm for the outdoors with the family. Adding to his love of fishing, skiing and tennis, he took up scuba diving in his early sixties; he never stopped living life to the fullest. Dad was kind and loved by all who knew him.
He lived by the motto of his alma mater UBC, TUUM EST-"It's up to you." And he added: "Do not blame others."