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Doris Lee Smith Schneider '56

Doris Lee Smith Schneider was born in Washington, DC and was raised in Silver Spring, Md. and Apollo, Pa. Her favorite extracurricular activity growing up was ballroom dancing and she was a member of Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Silver Spring, Md.

Theodore F. Schneider was born in Portsmouth, Va. and was a member of First Lutheran Church of which his grandmother was a charter member. It was a strong bond with church pastor, Ira Coiner, a 1905 Roanoke College graduate, who fostered Ted's path to Roanoke College and his journey to become a pastor.

Doris and Ted met at Roanoke College. They shared not only a major in Education and Psychology, but many campus student activities such as the choir, Clericus and Brackety-Ack. Doris was also active in the Women's Student Government Association, Cardinal Key Honor Society, and the modern language fraternity. She worked in the Admissions office and "sat the desk" at Smith Hall. Doris was a charter member of Delta Gamma Sorority. Ted was the photography editor for Rawenoch and a member of TKA National Honorary Debate Fraternity and Blue Key Honor Society. At Salem's College Lutheran Church, Doris was a member of the choir and taught Sunday school, while Ted was an organist.

After graduating from Roanoke College in 1956, Doris and Ted were married that summer. Together, they moved to Lancaster, Pa. where Ted would attend Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and Doris would work for Doubleday Publishers, Fairfield School District and Franklin and Marshall College. After seminary, Ted served as Pastor of three churches in Pennsylvania. Then, as the result of the successful merger of two congregations, Ted became Senior Pastor for Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Together, Doris and Ted made numerous contributions to their church and community. Ted founded United Cerebral Palsy of Lancaster, Pa. and both he and Doris served on the Board. Ted also founded Mt. Luther Camp and Conference Center.

In 1986, Ted was called to Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, Md. as Senior Pastor, where he would serve until 1995. 

During that time, Doris continued her career in higher education working for eighteen years at University of Maryland at College Park in both Development and Administration. Ted and Doris continued a shared and active commitment to church and others in the Silver Spring community.

It was in 1995, that Ted was called as Bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, DC Synod, ELCA. During his tenure, Ted was widely recognized for increasing stewardship within the Synod, outreach to a growing immigrant population, leading the membership through challenging and progressive decisions, and his work to create visible unity among Christian denominations.

Ted holds a Doctor of Divinity degree from Susquehanna University and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Roanoke College. He is the recipient of the 1995 Richard Lee Peterman Good Steward Award for Outstanding Leadership in Christian Stewardship and the 2007 Virginia Council on Churches Lifetime Ecumenist Award.

Upon retiring in 2007, Ted and Doris have devoted more time to Roanoke College. Ted is a member of the Board of Trustees and together Doris and Ted are members of the Society of 1842 and Associates Society. They have been hosts for alumni receptions and class agents for the 1956 graduation class and serve on the National Campaign Steering Committee for Roanoke Rising: The Campaign for Roanoke College.

In 1994, St. Luke Lutheran Church established a scholarship in the name of Doris Lee Smith Schneider and the Rev. Dr. Theodore F. Schneider as a gift. This scholarship provides a lasting legacy for the Schneiders to Roanoke College and the many students who will benefit from the support.

Ted and Doris have two children: daughter, Elisa Anne Gochnauer and son, Timothy Allen Schneider (wife Lois) and grandchildren, Sarah, Grace, Deanna, Tyler, Brittany and Kayla.

From the time their journey began, on the steps of Roanoke College, Doris and Ted have shared an unwavering dedication and passion for this College. Their stewardship, leadership, wisdom and faith have served us well. Roanoke College is proud to present the 2015 Medalist Award to Doris Lee Smith Schneider and the Rev. Dr. Theodore F. Schneider.

Job well done, good and faithful servants.

Doris L. S. Schneider received the Roanoke College Medal in 2015.