MARY M SCHAG

Long-time owner/operator of The Upper Crust on El Paseo Drive in Palm Desert passed away April 7, 2009. She touched the lives of so many people and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

Margie, as many of us knew her, was born September 22, 1934 in Fredericktown, Missouri to Cora Jean and Richard Benjamin Wilson. She was the youngest of eight children in the Wilson family. At the age of 4, after both of her parents had passed away, Margie traveled to California with her older brother Donald who was closest to her in age. Soon after arriving, she was adopted by Veta and Kenneth Hawkins of South Pasadena.

Margie was accepted to UCLA after graduating high school and pledged the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. It was there that she met Lt. Henry John Steinman, Jr., US Navy pilot. They fell in love and were married June 10, 1956. She enjoyed a career as an elementary school teacher at a private school in Beverly Hills before starting her family.

Margie and Henry went on to have three children; Thomas John, Sarah Lynn, and Richard Glen (Steinman). They lived briefly in Washington, DC before settling in Brentwood. While raising her family, Margie also kept quite busy supporting Henry’s legal career. She entertained flawlessly and with great style. Her culinary skills were finely honed, and she later transitioned them into a successful business.

In 1974 Margie and Henry were divorced. Margie later met and married Ernest J. Schag of Newport Beach. Ultimately the couple relocated to Palm Desert where Margie purchased The Upper Crust. She successfully operated the store for twenty years making it one of the longest privately owned businesses on El Paseo.

She battled cancer bravely on and off for over ten years. During her remissions she dedicated many hours of her time to the Lucy Curci Cancer Center assisting chemo-therapy patients.

Margie is survived by two of her sisters, Maxine Rogers and Jean Searle. She also leaves behind her son, Thomas J. Steinman, and her daughter, Sarah Steinman Campbell as well as her grandchildren; Alyssa Marie Steinman, Henry Gordon “Mitchell” Steinman, Whitney Kate Campbell, and Matthew Glen Campbell. She will be joining her beloved son Richard Glen Steinman who preceded her in death.

We will all carry you with us in our hearts forever.