Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Obituary: Konrad Schoebel

Konrad Schoebel, a resident of Atherton and Portola Valley, died March 1. He was 86.

Mr. Schoebel earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and optics from the Academy of Applied Technology in Munich, Germany.

He came to United States in 1951 to pursue a career in the magnetic tape recording industry. In 1957, he founded Precision Instrument Co. and developed and manufactured various advanced instrumentation tape recorders for commercial and military applications, his family said.

In 1974, he started his second company, Precision Echo Inc. In 1984, he sold his company to DRS Technologies of Oakland, New Jersey.

He was a guest lecturer at U.C. Berkeley's graduate school of business, and a director of the German Chamber Of Commerce in San Francisco for 10 years.

Mr. Schoebel traveled extensively, and counted a trekking trip to Nepal and Mount Everest as the highlight, family member said.

He was an early member of the Alpine Hills Tennis Club in Portola Valley, the University Club and the St. Francis Yacht Club. For 20 years, he enjoyed racing his boat on the San Francisco Bay and won many trophies in the Danforth Ocean Racing Series, his family said. He volunteered as an AYSO soccer referee.

He is survived by his wife, Christiane Schoebel of Portola Valley; his children David Schoebel of Woodside and Peter Schoebel of Herndon, Virginia; and three grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations be made to Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley.