Joe Schulman

Joe Schulman passed away September 7th, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 99. He was born in Ketchikan, Alaska July 2nd, 1927, the son of Russian emigrants Louis and Louba Schulman. His father spent 17 years in Alaska as a fur trader, mushing dog teams into the interior and flying with the bush pilots, buying furs from the Eskimos and trappers. Joe is survived by his wife Edith of 38 years, his 5 children, Michael Schulman, Julia (Randy) Wofford, Heidi (Chip) Burger, Richard Schulman and Melissa (David) Brenner; Grandchildren, Heather Schulman, Kaitlyn Janda, Benjamin, Julianna and Lillian Brenner and his step Grandson, rank, Captain, USMC, Chad Burger and Great Grandchildren, Christian Evans and Taylor Evans and his brother, Bob Schulman, (Gina) and nephew Nicky Schulman (Jessica), a world class poker champion and their daughter Juno, as well as many of his 14 first cousins.

Joe was raised in Los Angeles when his parents thought it might be wise to move to warmer climates, Seattle in 1930 and then Los Angeles in 1933. He attended Fairfax H.S. and graduated from UCLA in 1949 with a degree in political science. Joe enlisted in the AAF pilot cadet program as a senior in high school in 1944 during WWII and expected to be called up for training when he turned 18 in 1945. However, the Army did not need any more pilots. Because he had enlisted for flight training, he could join any branch of the army or get a discharge and be eligible for the draft. He chose the latter and finished college in time to be drafted into the army during the Korean war and discharged as a Sergeant in 1952. He later fulfilled his dream of a lifetime, earning his private pilot's license.

Joe brought his family back from Los Angeles, his wife, Sara (a Georgia native) and children to Atlanta in 1958. Seeking greener pastures, going to work at Selig Chemical Co, and left with his partner in 1965 to found Sentry Chemical Co. After his partner retired, he grew Sentry into a multi-million dollar business with distributors and customers in the United States, Asia, Europe and South America. After retiring from Sentry, he helped found Ecolink, manufacturing environmentally preferred industrial solvents to replace dangerous and ozone depleting products and later became a founding partner of SCMG, (Strategic Chemical Management Group) that provided the total chemical requirements of Southern California Edison, Florida Power and Light, New Jersey Public Service and Gas, NY Con Ed and other Energy clients. Joe then retired completely to enjoy a long and fruitful life with his wife, Edith Murphy. They traveled around the world, including Europe (mostly Italy), Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Scandinavia, South America (celebrating New Year's Eve in Santiago, Chile, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Cartegena, Colombia. Asia (China, Japan, Bhutan), New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.

His crowning achievement was four weeks circuiting the world with his friend Morty Tauber flying Atlanta to Los Angeles, Then Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, The Polynesia Islands (for a little rest) followed by India visiting the Taj Mahal, Istanbul where they both took a real "Turkish Bath", Germany (where Joe was almost held because of his Brass Knuckles that Mort insisted he take home (But not in the airplane).

He always said he lived a lucky life with Edith and the friends he met and kept along the way. His many friends and family will remember him and miss him.

A private Entombment will be held on Monday, September 14th, 2026 at The Abbey at Westview Cemetery.