By Daily Press staff
Former Santa Monica College Trustee, volunteer and community activist, Schiller A. Colberg, died March 23 at the age of 90.
Colberg served 20 years, until 1979, on the SMC and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board when the two districts were governed by one entity. He also served on SMC’s General Advisory Board.
Perhaps best known for his commitment to the Boy Scouts, he also was involved in other community organizations, including the Santa Monica Rotary Club — where he logged in 49 years of near perfect attendance and also served as president.
Born July 8, 1913 in Chicago, he obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 1937 and became a professional Boy Scout executive the next year.
In 1940 he married Medora Clow, and they began raising a family. Colberg continued working with the Scouts and also graduated from the executive program at the University of Chicago and obtained his master’s degree in business administration from that school in 1954.
That same year, Colberg and his family moved to Malibu after he accepted the position of Scout Executive for the Crescent Bay Area Council in Western Los Angeles.
Scouting flourished under Colberg’s leadership as he helped build the membership over 24 years from 5,000 Scouts to 34,000 — including the San Fernando Valley — and the volunteer base from 3,000 to 17,000.
Colberg also was involved in the Santa Monica Bay Navy League, and served on the boards of Sheltered Workshops for the Handicapped and First Federal Savings of Santa Monica. He was also a charter member of the Plato Society at UCLA.
Aside from his wife, he is survived by his son Kent; daughters Karen Colberg and Kristine Stewart; sister Betty DeWitt, and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son Kit Colberg. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, April 30 at First United Methodist Church, 1008 11th St. in Santa Monica.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Western Los Angeles County Council, Boy Scouts of America, 16525 Sherman Way, Unit C-8, Van Nuys, Calif. 91406.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 2, 2004. Read the original PDF.