by Ken Metz

On Sunday, July 24, 2016, the California Council of the Blind (CCB) lost a true champion in blindness issues and in the belief that blind folks deserved
equal opportunity in all aspects of life. His name was Obbie Schoeman.

Obbie was involved in CCB for well over 30 years after he met his wife Connie, who passed away in 2010. She was a Rehabilitation Supervisor who taught
Obbie what blind folks were really capable of doing, and he quickly became a believer of their numerous accomplishments, and he wanted to see the growth
of opportunity for these folks.

Obbie worked hard over his years in CCB in fundraising, running the exhibit hall for a large number of its State conventions, and assisting folks looking
for rooms in hotels. He gave the same tireless self for his local CCB West Valley and Los Angeles chapters. He was also involved in working on the merger
between ACBC and the CCB in the 1980s. He was a "Life Member" of the CCB, and contributed many of his own dollars on both the State and local levels. Obbie
and I became great friends in the late 90s, and after just a few years, he and I were thought of as brothers as we were almost inseparable.

The one achievement that Obbie always wanted was to be a CCB Board member, and many felt that he didn't get that position strictly due to his being sighted.
Well, Obbie, you have now reached that position of a perpetual CCB Board member, and we all know that you will still find a way of getting your ideas through
to us. CCB will certainly miss you, and those who followed you in devotional services at many conventions will still hear your great tones as you lead
them in song and biblical readings. And on a personal level, you and I did become brothers, and I will love and miss you until we meet again.