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Educational TV Pioneer Schneider Dies

Joel Schneider, a pioneering force in educational programming, died of cancer on Sept. 12, 2004 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He was 61 years old.

Schneider served as content director for CRO, an animated science series broadcast by ABC on Saturday mornings. Recently, he served as vp for education and research at Sesame Workshop, where he focused on activities in China, including the development of a new planetarium show with a SESAME STREET theme. In addition, he was instrumental in the development of Kami, the first HIV-positive Muppet.

Sesame Workshop will establish the Joel Schneider International Research Fund for Global Health to honor his passion and work on the Workshop's global health initiative.

Schneider, who was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, began his career studying mathematics and taught mathematics at Penn State University. He is survived by his wife Claire, a brother, two sons and two stepchildren and six grandchildren.

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