Robert Schorno—husband, father, grandfather, and friend—died at his home in Greer, South Carolina, on February 19, 2018. He was 73.
Originally from the small town of Muhen in Switzerland, Robert was fascinated with airplanes from a young age. He became so knowledgable about planes, if he just heard one flying overhead, he could identify the type of airplane just by the sound of its engine without even seeing it. He became a young champion control-line airplane flyer, and later earned his actual pilot’s license as a young man.
In 1966, Robert moved to Ontario, Canada as a toolmaker. There he met Anna Hugli, and they married on June 15, 1968. They had two children, Renée and André.
Robert became an early employee of Magna International, and his engineering expertise allowed him to oversee the company’s partnerships in Germany, Japan, and Russia.
In 1994, Robert moved the family to Greer, South Carolina to continue Magna’s efforts with companies such as GM, Ford, and BMW. Robert loved living in the US, and quickly fell in with a group of flying enthusiasts who met at Pat Hartness’ now famous Triple Tree Aerodrome. Robert received the Joe Nall Award in 2014 for his massive volunteer efforts.
He also loved to travel with his family via plane or in his 36-foot RV. His favorite places included Switzerland, Canada, Florida, Hawaii, Yellowstone National Park, South Dakota, and any airplane museums along the way.
Robert leaves behind his beloved wife Anna, daughter Renée and her son Jude and her husband Scott, and son André. He is also survived by his sister Ruth and her family, and his brother Walter and his family.