Carol Schiller, 58; Civil Rights Worker Led Fair Housing Fight

Carol F. Schiller, a tireless civil rights worker who until illness forced her retirement last year was assistant deputy director of the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing, died Saturday.

Judy Howell, a friend and colleague, said Schiller was 58 when she died after a lengthy battle against cancer.

When she retired last July--after three decades of work on behalf of equality in housing--more than 300 people honored her at a dinner.

Many of them were representatives of the housing industry or employers she had battled over the years, Howell said.

As a young woman she walked picket lines protesting the American Nazi Party and worked as a volunteer on statewide propositions that limited racial and economic discrimination.

When she became a professional rights activist she created the Fair Housing Congress of Southern California, now the umbrella organization for the Los Angeles area.

A native of New York City and graduate of Hunter College of the City University of New York, she had lived in Sherman Oaks since 1959 and began her professional career in 1967.

She also worked as a consultant, administrator and field operations director for the state fair employment housing commission, investigating and resolving discrimination complaints while also assisting employers.

In her last position with the state, she was in charge of the six district offices of the Fair Employment and Housing Department in Southern California.

Survivors include her husband, Bob, and three children.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Wellness Community in Santa Monica, a cancer support group.

A celebration of her life will be held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Hillel in North Hollywood.