The community of Bishop, but also California, lost a great man on October 4, 2021 to Covid. At just 79 years old, Mr. Schat had a long battle against Corona Virus and sadly did not make it.
For those Southern Californians who would spend their winters skiing and snowboarding in Mammoth, Schatz Bakery was an iconic place to stop on the drive up, just an hour south of Mammoth Mountain in Bishop. Schatz Bakery is famous for its Original Sheepherder Bread baked in the finest European Stone Hearth oven.
Not only was Erick a great baker and businessman but he was a family man.
"He is survived by six children, Paul Schat, Angel Schat, Aaron Schat, Yvette Richards Schat, Erick Schat, Anneke Elliott Schat. Shea Schat his wife of 35 years who was his partner and mother of 5 of his children, who worked harder than anyone to help in the family business. His sister Alida Vanovereen of Laguna Beach Calif., his brother Dan Schat of Hawaii, 22 grandchildren, cousin Piet from Huntsville Canada, numerous cousins from Zeist, and Utrecht Holland, 68 employees who saw him the most working alongside him for 30 plus years, and so many friends and business associates it would take up pages and pages to list their names," (Inyo County Register).
In addition, Erick and family helped develop Bishop into the city it is today. Jacob Schat Jr., Ericks brother, immigrated to the United States in 1950 at the young age of 17 to join the army. A few years later, he sponsored his parents and three of his five siblings, including Erick to the USA. They began building a life, a family, in Bishop, California. They knew that Bishop was their home and they had to put work into the community. Now that Erick has passed, Aaron, his son has taken over the bakery and will ensure that his father's legacy lives on in Bishop.
According to Tawni Thomson, executive director of the Bishop Chamber of Commerce, "Schat was a generous icon who invested heavily in the community. He gave a lot and helped with events. He left a legacy that we hope goes on for another 100 years. It’s a sad day.'"
This is so sad, but I'm glad people take the time to write about those who pass and explain their achievements. It's also very cool to see someone who was passionate about baking and was also a businessman. So few times do we hear about someones full character and passions, rather than what they simply did for work. Thank you for the good read!
I think it is so important to learn about and remember those who have impacted the world around them in a positive way. While I had no idea who Erick Schat was before this post, it was enlightening to be able to learn more about someone who has obviously contributed to their community. I was very impressed with how big of an impact he has made!
I at first had no idea who Erick Schat is, but hearing that he was the owner of Schatz Bakery made me remember my family's trips to mammoth. It is quite sad that he has passed away, but his legacy will live on with his bakery. I especially loved the sandwiches that they had, and also their huge pull-away bread.
This was a great story! A lot of people travel to many different places and do not see the hard work that local shops and small business owners go through to keep their businesses open. I think your story did a great job of spotlighting a person who had a deep impact on their community and the visitors that went to his shop.