Virginia Schultz
Class of 2026
Virginia Schultz was born in 1945 in San Francisco to hard-working, resourceful parents who came to California from Tennessee and Missouri with only an eighth-grade education. They met in San Francisco and built a life grounded in determination and gratitude. With their encouragement– and the strong foundation of San Francisco public schools– Virginia graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in chemistry. That education led to a position at Chevron Research, where she met her husband of 56 years, Bill Schultz. Together they raised two children and now delight in four granddaughters. Virginia remains deeply grateful for her education and has devoted much of her volunteer work to schools and libraries.
An only child, Virginia was strongly influenced by her mother, who was practical, calm under pressure, goal-oriented, and deeply grateful for their home in San Francisco’s Sunset District. Her mother assessed problems thoughtfully, acted decisively, and embodied self-reliance. A true do-it-yourselfer, she made all of Virginia’s clothes– including her wedding dress.
Quiet and introverted as a child, Virginia nevertheless formed close friendships, often bringing friends along on family camping trips to Burney Falls and other Northern California parks. Those experiences sparked a lifelong love of nature, which she still enjoys through gardening and hiking in Marin and the Sierra Nevada.
After the birth of her daughter Christine in 1971, followed by her son Tyler in 1974, Virginia became a stay-at-home mother. She immersed herself in her children’s education, volunteering in classrooms and the PTA. Encouraged by fellow parents and mentors, she stepped into leadership roles, becoming PTA president at Loma Verde School in Novato and later serving as 14th District PTA President, representing Marin and Sonoma Counties at the California State PTA. With continued encouragement, Virginia was elected to the Novato Unified School District Board.
Serving on the School Board brought both challenges and rewards. Novato Unified struggled to compete with wealthier Marin districts, facing lower teacher pay and larger class sizes. Parcel tax measures had failed twice, but in 1992– during Virginia’s term as Board President—the district launched a professionally supported campaign. Volunteers staffed phone banks nightly and walked precincts on weekends.
That same year, state law required the district to issue layoff notices before the election outcome was known. One of those affected was a school nurse who called Virginia in tears. The nurse’s role was deeply personal to Virginia, whose son had recently been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The stakes were real and painful. When the measure narrowly passed, the district was able to retain its dedicated staff– a victory Virginia never forgot.
Later that year, a Marin County Free Library funding measure failed. Reading about it at home, Virginia felt compelled to act. She called the County Library Director and offered her help for the next attempt. After a year and a half of work, the measure passed—again by a narrow margin. Over time, both school and library funding measures gained stronger support, reflecting growing community trust.
A lifelong Northern California girl, Virginia grew up near the beach, camped in the Sierras, and studied at UC Berkeley. Over the years, she and Bill relocated several times for his career, embracing each move as an opportunity to learn and grow.
In 1976, they lived on the East Coast in Roosevelt, New Jersey, a town founded during the New Deal to resettle Jewish garment workers. Designed by architect Mies van der Rohe and enriched by artist Ben Shahn, the town left a lasting impression. Their children formed close bonds with neighborhood families– connections Virginia still cherishes.
Later, Bill was transferred to São Paulo, Brazil. With their children away at college, Virginia joined him, navigating a new language and culture with the help of local friends. While adjusting to life in a large city came with challenges, the experience broadened her perspective— and their golden retriever provided loyal companionship and comfort.
After two years in Brazil, the couple moved to Houston. Wanting to reenter the workforce, Virginia enrolled in advanced computer courses at a community college. She soon transitioned from student to instructor and continues to use those skills today to manage databases and communications for the Friends of the Marin County Free Library.
Returning to Novato after two and a half years, Virginia resumed teaching part time before becoming deeply involved with the Friends of the Marin County Free Library, eventually serving as president. The Friends support libraries through memberships, book sales, and community programs that promote literacy, learning, and connection for all ages. Virginia has also served as treasurer for multiple library funding campaigns. The most recent measure, passed in 2022, received an overwhelming 77% approval.
Throughout her life, Virginia has benefited from friends and mentors who encouraged her to lead– often before she recognized it as mentoring. Their belief in her shaped her path.
From these experiences, she has learned to lead by example, listen closely, recognize strengths, and let others shine. She values encouragement, gratitude, and the power of a sincere thank-you– especially handwritten ones.
Virginia’s volunteer journey and personal life have been supported every step of the way by her husband Bill and their children, Christine and Tyler, whom she loves deeply.
She is profoundly grateful to be nominated for the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame. It has been her joy to serve the community, form lasting friendships, and make a meaningful difference– while having fun along the way.