Obituary of Phyllis McDonald Schoenberger

Phyllis (McDonald) Schoenberger

February 24, 1927 – August 17, 2019

As an artist, Phyllis (McDonald) Schoenberger created stunningly beautiful paintings that will continue to adorn our walls for years to come. But it was the way she designed her life that defined her truest artistry. Phyllis married her soul mate and life partner, Robert S. Schoenberger, on November 30, 1957. Together, they built their dream house on Long Island sound, where she had an art studio above the garage. Their home was filled with love: for hosting Christmas Eve with friends and family; the fresh-cut flowers from her garden and paintings that inevitably mirrored her passion for the water and beach life around them, native botanicals, and her favorite waterfowl—the geese aka “the honkers”.

Phyllis’s talent led her to attend New York University for her bachelor’s degree in art education. She did her graduate work at Parsons School of Design. After graduating, she worked as an illustrator for Conde’ Nast Publications; Saks Fifth Avenue and Glamour Magazine. Later, Phyllis’s award-winning work in watercolor and oils earned her numerous one-woman shows. She exhibited at the Stamford Museum, the Hudson River Museum and the Silvermine School of Art, among others. Her paintings also reside in many private collections. Phyllis served as vice president of the Mamaroneck Artist Guild in New York for two terms and as a juror for admissions and shows for the National Association of Women Artists.

Phyllis’s favorite showcase, though, was the home on the sound that she built with Bob. She loved to garden and was a member of the Larchmont Beautification Committee. She also enjoyed the company of her beloved pets. Although her black lab, Nacho, was laid to rest; Phyllis lived happily with Lilli, her rescue cat.

Phyllis was born February 24, 1927 to Caroline Geffers and Philip McDonald, who preceded her in death, as did her husband Robert. She passed away on August 17, 2019. Befitting a woman who loved her life on the water, a Celebration of Life will be held on September 14, 2019, from 2 pm to 5 pm, at the Larchmont Yacht Club. Phyllis, Bob & Nacho are laid to rest with Phyllis’s parents in the Pelham Cemetery on City Island which overlooks the water they all so loved.