Beloved Local Educator and Adventurer Lenore Schneider Passes Away at 89

Bradenton, Florida, USA - Lenore Lou (Bunny) Graf Schneider, a beloved figure in the local community, passed away on June 2, 2025, in Bradenton, Florida. Born on December 23, 1935, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lenore dedicated a significant portion of her life to education, hiking, and environmental advocacy. Her passing leaves a gap not only in her family but in the hearts of many friends and community members who admired her vibrant spirit.

Lenore was preceded in death by her husband Jack in 2018. She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Julia M. Schneider (Louise), son John A. Schneider, sister Charme Burns (Jim), brother Louis Graf (Jan), as well as nieces, nephews, and numerous friends who cherished her zest for life.

A Life Dedicated to Education and Adventure

Graduating summa cum laude from Ohio University, Lenore became a respected teacher for the Hearing Impaired at Manatee High School, where she served for 20 years. Her commitment to her students earned her the title of Teacher of the Year in 1991. Yet, Lenore’s life extended far beyond the classroom walls; her passion for backpacking blossomed through her leadership of Julia’s Girl Scout Troop.

In 1978, she founded the Mountain Marching Mamas, a group of five adventurous women who hiked the entire 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Lenore’s journey on the trail inspired her to document her experiences in the book „It’s Always Up-Memories of the A.T.“ Her spirit of adventure didn’t stop there; she participated in various expeditions, including a Coast to Coast Walk in the Lake District of England, hiking archaeological sites in Greece and Crete, and a notable canoe trip down the Suwanee River from Okefenokee Swamp to the Gulf of Mexico. By the time of her death, she had embarked on 61 adventure trips with the Mamas.

Environmental Advocacy and Community Impact

Lenore’s enthusiasm for nature was evident in her active membership in the Manatee County Audubon Society and her crucial role in establishing the Felts Audubon Preserve in Ellenton, Florida. Moreover, she co-founded the Appalachian Trail Club of Florida in 1980 and was honored as the first recipient of the Benton MacKaye Award for her contributions to the trail community. This recognition illustrates the impact of her work, which has inspired countless others to embrace the beauty of the outdoors.

While she accomplished much, Lenore also faced challenges, including a kidney transplant at Tampa General Hospital in 2018 after two years of dialysis. Grateful for her restored health, she continued to share her love of nature with those around her. Her parting message, quoted from Annie Dillard, reflects her view on existence: “Beauty and grace are performed in nature whether we are there or not; the least we can do is try to be there.”

A Legacy Honored

A service to celebrate Lenore’s life is scheduled for June 13, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church in Bradenton, FL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida in her memory. Online condolences can be shared at www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.

As people pay tribute to Lenore’s extraordinary life, her adventures on the Appalachian Trail remind us of the beauty and challenges of the outdoors. According to Trail Bliss Hub, despite the trail’s considerable length and the risks involved, the overall fatalities remain low in comparison to other outdoor activities. Those who embark on such journeys, like Lenore did, are drawn not just to the adventure, but also to the community it fosters.

The Appalachian Trail, a vital ecological and social ecosystem, welcomes around three million visitors annually, creating a unique tapestry of human experiences and interactions with nature. Research from Appalachian Trail Research highlights that while thru-hikers face various risks, the rewards of connection with the wild, as Lenore experienced, are immeasurable.

As we reflect on the life of Lenore Schneider, we are reminded of the many paths she blazed, both in education and in the wild. Her legacy endures not just in the memories of her friends and family but also in the very trails she cherished and fought to protect.