Obituary for Scott Schulze
The decades long struggle Scott Schulze fought with addiction finally and sadly caught him off guard in an accidental overdose on Friday, December 22, 2023. He had been living in Greenville, South Carolina but died at Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina.
Despite the ups and downs of Scott’s 34 years, his was a life of love, joy, humor, dedication to his family and friends, all music, and passions for fishing on salt water. He was handsome, accomplished, compassionate and will be missed terribly.
Scott was born to Helen “Muffy” and Richard Schulze August 13, 1989 in Port Chester, New York. Minutes later, his twin brother Robert joined him—two little brothers for their adoring big sister, Kate. Three years later, the family moved to Hilton Head Island where the inseparable kids thrived, swimming and fishing in the lagoons, learning to sail at the South Carolina Yacht Club. Each summer starting in high school, Scott worked on a boat out of Shelter Cove where he learned all the best fishing spots around the islands. He grew up in the Episcopal church, working in the kitchen, the garden and on mission trips each year. His commitment to volunteering and helping others continued into adulthood.
Scott was selected to read the benediction when he graduated from Hilton Head Preparatory School in 2007. He attended Auburn University, but to get back to the water and Low Country lifestyle, he transferred to the University of South Carolina where he graduated with honors with a double major, in Business and Marketing.
Scott was full of life, laughter, and love. He was socially engaging, always good company, and followed the Grateful Dead when he could. He easily connected with all ages and was welcomed by high rollers as well as the homeless.
Initially Scott was medically prescribed drugs in high school, and his journey from then on was two steps forward, one step back—often the result of legally prescribed opioids. To find the peace he perennially sought, he would fall back on medicating himself. During his stints in recovery, he was a thoroughly engaged poster guy—optimistic, determined, and committed. Until he wasn’t.
After college, Scott spent time in Hilton Head and Sumter rehabs before beginning years of his successful sober life. He and his sister Kate moved to Charleston in 2014 to launch their mother’s brainchild: The Proper Knot. While Kate managed the outfitting and interior design of yachts and sailboats, Scott oversaw the business and marketing decisions; together they traveled to boat shows up and down the East Coast. Scott also sold new and used boats of all sizes for Barrier Island Marina in Charleston.
During Covid, Scott moved to Sarasota, Florida where he continued brokering boats and spent some time in the Bahamas where he pursued his love of blue water, papaya trees and fishing. He returned to Charleston when the pandemic coast was clear. Most recently, he had spent time in BriteLife Recovery on Hilton Head before moving to Next Steps Today in Greenville, South Carolina. He soon moved in with his brother Robert and his young family there and joined him working for the American Roofing Company.
Scott is survived by his parents, Helen “Muffy” and Richard Schulze of Hilton Head Island and Charleston; his sister, Kate Schulze Eggleston and her husband, Chip of Charleston; his twin brother Robert Schulze, his wife Jessica and their children: Elizabeth Lockaby, 10; Madison, 4; and Everett, 1 month, of Greenville, South Carolina.
A funeral and memorial will be held at noon on Saturday, January 6, at St. James Episcopal Church, 1872 Camp Road, Charleston, SC, followed by a reception featuring Grateful Dead music and tie-dyed table covers. The next day, friends and family in various boats will disperse his ashes where he was happiest, in the salt waters of Charleston.
In lieu of flowers, the family knows Scott would appreciate donations to key organizations that put him back onto safer paths: Sammy’s Mission, 2607 Woodruff Road, Suite E, Simpsonville, SC 29681 or sammysmission.org; or The Phoenix Organization, 2239 Champa Street, Denver, CO 80205 or thephoenix.org.
Without love in a dream, it will never come true - The Grateful Dead
Despite the ups and downs of Scott’s 34 years, his was a life of love, joy, humor, dedication to his family and friends, all music, and passions for fishing on salt water. He was handsome, accomplished, compassionate and will be missed terribly.
Scott was born to Helen “Muffy” and Richard Schulze August 13, 1989 in Port Chester, New York. Minutes later, his twin brother Robert joined him—two little brothers for their adoring big sister, Kate. Three years later, the family moved to Hilton Head Island where the inseparable kids thrived, swimming and fishing in the lagoons, learning to sail at the South Carolina Yacht Club. Each summer starting in high school, Scott worked on a boat out of Shelter Cove where he learned all the best fishing spots around the islands. He grew up in the Episcopal church, working in the kitchen, the garden and on mission trips each year. His commitment to volunteering and helping others continued into adulthood.
Scott was selected to read the benediction when he graduated from Hilton Head Preparatory School in 2007. He attended Auburn University, but to get back to the water and Low Country lifestyle, he transferred to the University of South Carolina where he graduated with honors with a double major, in Business and Marketing.
Scott was full of life, laughter, and love. He was socially engaging, always good company, and followed the Grateful Dead when he could. He easily connected with all ages and was welcomed by high rollers as well as the homeless.
Initially Scott was medically prescribed drugs in high school, and his journey from then on was two steps forward, one step back—often the result of legally prescribed opioids. To find the peace he perennially sought, he would fall back on medicating himself. During his stints in recovery, he was a thoroughly engaged poster guy—optimistic, determined, and committed. Until he wasn’t.
After college, Scott spent time in Hilton Head and Sumter rehabs before beginning years of his successful sober life. He and his sister Kate moved to Charleston in 2014 to launch their mother’s brainchild: The Proper Knot. While Kate managed the outfitting and interior design of yachts and sailboats, Scott oversaw the business and marketing decisions; together they traveled to boat shows up and down the East Coast. Scott also sold new and used boats of all sizes for Barrier Island Marina in Charleston.
During Covid, Scott moved to Sarasota, Florida where he continued brokering boats and spent some time in the Bahamas where he pursued his love of blue water, papaya trees and fishing. He returned to Charleston when the pandemic coast was clear. Most recently, he had spent time in BriteLife Recovery on Hilton Head before moving to Next Steps Today in Greenville, South Carolina. He soon moved in with his brother Robert and his young family there and joined him working for the American Roofing Company.
Scott is survived by his parents, Helen “Muffy” and Richard Schulze of Hilton Head Island and Charleston; his sister, Kate Schulze Eggleston and her husband, Chip of Charleston; his twin brother Robert Schulze, his wife Jessica and their children: Elizabeth Lockaby, 10; Madison, 4; and Everett, 1 month, of Greenville, South Carolina.
A funeral and memorial will be held at noon on Saturday, January 6, at St. James Episcopal Church, 1872 Camp Road, Charleston, SC, followed by a reception featuring Grateful Dead music and tie-dyed table covers. The next day, friends and family in various boats will disperse his ashes where he was happiest, in the salt waters of Charleston.
In lieu of flowers, the family knows Scott would appreciate donations to key organizations that put him back onto safer paths: Sammy’s Mission, 2607 Woodruff Road, Suite E, Simpsonville, SC 29681 or sammysmission.org; or The Phoenix Organization, 2239 Champa Street, Denver, CO 80205 or thephoenix.org.
Without love in a dream, it will never come true - The Grateful Dead