Eva Lou Schroeder Watson

'Eve'

Eva Lou Schroeder Watson was born March 3, 1923 in Pierce City, Missouri to Laura Boucher Schroeder and Charles Herman Schroeder. Eve was the middle child born to this couple. Her older sister Helen born in 1919 and a younger brother Charles born in 1926. The family were farmers in Pierce City. Tragically Eva's father died in 1929 when Eve was 6 years old. Her mother remarried Mr. Hardy Rector sometime in 1940. Both Eve's sister Helen and brother Charles predeceased her.

There are few details about Eve's early life. A small clipping found among her papers reads that as a high school sophomore she was chosen to go to Jefferson City on the annual student pilgrimage through the capital buildings. This trip was sponsored by the Woman's Federated Clubs and Miss Schroeder is being sent by the local clubs.

She had quite the family history. Eve was a direct descendant of Henry Spillman, shipmate of captain John Smith on his voyage to America in 1607. Her mother was one of 14 children born into the Boucher family. Her godfather (a great uncle) Dr. Ramsey Spillman was an honor graduate of Cornell medical college. Another godfather and cousin Frederick Goss Cooper was a professor at Stanford University and a well-known illustrator. One of her several aunts was a prolific educator at the University of Missouri. By all accounts they were a close family and Eve grew up with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Eve graduated from Pierce City High School, class of 1940. Sometime later she moved to the BIG APPLE, living in Manhattan at the Windsor Tower in Tutor City.

Eve met Mr. Jack Alvin Watson, Jr., a Brooklyn native, and though there no details about their courtship, the photos show they were very much in love. They became engaged in October of 1954 and were married in April of 1955 at the Kirkland Chapel in the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Eve was escorted by her cousin Frederic G. Cooper and their wedding reception was held at Society of Illustrators.

John Alvin Watson Jr. (Jack), a Brooklyn native was born in 1925 to John Alvin and Mary Watson. He had two siblings, Raymond and Eileen. He graduated from Manual Training High School in three and one half years and while in high school he lettered in varsity basketball, was a member of the dance club and worked as a secretary to a faculty member. He volunteered from civilian life in December 1943 to join the army. He was trained as an aircrew cadet and honorably discharged in November, 1945. He attended Cornell University Civil Engineering graduating in 1949 and started his career as an associate with the 3M company shortly thereafter. After a honeymoon in Bermuda, they settled into domestic life in an apartment on First Avenue and then to a two bedroom apartment in Peter Cooper Village where she resided until her passing in May 2023 at 100 years of age.

Eve was employed as the private secretary to the president of Rockefeller Center, Inc. Eve was invited to be a member of the elite Seraphic Society*. She was very active there and served on many committees: program, Governor, chair of programs, special events, goodwill, and admissions throughout the late 1960s and 1970s. Eva enjoyed antiquing and gardening. Jack was active as a Cornell alumni, being on the Board of Governors of the New York Alumni Association. He enjoyed fishing and golf in his spare time. They traveled often to see family out west and to Cornell University in Ithaca New York for alumni events. They enjoyed their active social life in the city. Unfortunately for the young couple, Jack began to lose field vision and night vision by the age of 39 and was almost totally blind in both eyes within ten years. He had a condition known as Retinitis Pigmentosa. Both were vitally interested in research to find a cure. They traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and John's Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. Ultimately, they had to drop out of their outside activities as Eva had to take care of Jack.

Jack passed away in April of 2005, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. Eva wrote, it was very sad and sometimes trying 12 years battling Alzheimer's disease but the sacrifice was worth it with Jack at home where he was happy. Hospice is certainly preferable to a nursing home but hospice forced me to move him to a nursing home." Eve went every day to the Cabrini Hospice nursing home, to read his chart, check on his care and read to him. Every day, during the two and a half months he was in hospice they said the following prayer together: I love you, forgive me as I forgive you and goodbye.

Eva and Jack's union was one of an enduring love and partnership. Eva's legacy is one of resilience, love and faith. Her unwavering support of her husband Jack is inspirational and now carried forward in the five charities they have supported: the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, the Alzheimer's Association, The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Cornell University's Civil Engineering College, and the 9th Street Prospect YMCA.

Eva will be laid to rest by her beloved Jack in Green-Wood Cemetery, Shannon family plot, in Brooklyn, New York.