Memorial Service To Honor BRHS Graduate Who Died At 19

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Family and friends are mourning the loss of 19-year-old Charlie Schulz. Charlie was a student at The College of New Jersey and 2018 graduate of Bridgewater-Raritan High School and lost his courageous mental health battle to suicide on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, "a shock to all those who loved him."

Born as Shannon on Oct. 19, 1999, Schulz was a timid yellow-haired, beautiful, caring and well loved girl by everyone, according to an obituary provided to Patch by the family.

"No one in the family judged the self discovery that was to follow. Shannon became Charlie. Charlie was, in every way, an inspiration to all those around him," according to his obituary.

Schulz became a LGBTQ+ and human justice activist, avid robotics team member, talented artist and cos-player. He received exceptional marks his junior and senior years of high school, and was able to attend his top choice college.

"Charlie was a trailblazer, so much so that it was eventually understood by everyone in his life that they could never be quite just like him, and that all one could really do is sit back and watch the magic," his obituary stated. "Why Charlie could not see himself as the exceptional person everyone around him saw him to be, we may never know. Rest now Charlie, your power and love will never be forgotten."

Schulz is survived by his parents; mother Elizabeth Fagan-Schulz and father Wynn Schulz, his sister Darcy, his many family members, and countless others.

His memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton on Saturday, March 2 at 1 p.m. All who knew and loved him are invited to attend.

To honor Schulz, the family is asking those to donate blood as Schulz was working toward membership in his local blood center’s Gallon Club.

In lieu of flowers, Schulz's family requests donations be made to the PROUD Family Health program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset - the first hospital in New Jersey to offer Specialized primary care services for the LGBTQIA community.

Donations can be made by completing and returning the form here or here. Write PROUD Family Health in the Gift Designation line.

People experiencing suicidal thoughts can find support at the below resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 800-273-TALK (8255)
• Tlc4teens.org: A website created by the Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth, which includes organizations, hotlines and relevant articles that have been vetted by TLC
• Call or text 2NDFLOOR — a confidential and anonymous helpline for New Jersey youth and young adults, ages 10 to 24, at 888-222-2228. It is staffed 24 hours a day.
• NJ Hopeline: 855-NJ-HOPELINE at 855-654-6735

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