Belita M. Schindler
Belita Schindler moved to Austin with her husband, Dick, and four children in 1972 from Colorado where Dick had been a physician assigned to the United States Air Force Academy. He joined the Austin Medical Center and the rest of the family dove into life in Austin. Belita immediately embraced the community as her own. About a month after arriving, she offered to play the organ at St. Augustine’s Church and she is still playing there 50 years later!
Her professional career as an Interior decorator began first in Rochester and then at Robbins Furniture in Austin. In 1978, she opened her own business, Belita’s Residential and Commercial Interiors. Through this enterprise, she enhanced many homes and businesses in the area until she retired in 2012.
Belita has volunteered with many organizations and served on numerous boards including the Police Civil Service Commission, Riverland Community College Foundation, Austin Area Foundation, and the Hormel Historic Home. Her work with Austin Area Arts helped to establish the ArtWorks Center in its permanent building on Main Street. She was co-founder of the Austin ArtWorks Festival and spearheaded the Historic Paramount Theatre Expansion Committee. Because of her efforts and leadership, the Paramount has seen many improvements made to the structure including: a fire suppression system, a new roof, and the exterior brickwork has been repaired. A new movie screen with an improved hearing and video projection system has also been added.
Her work with the Historic Paramount Theatre Expansion Committee continues today. The Paramount structure was built nearly 100 years ago as a movie house and over the years the building has gone through many changes. There are many issues that still need to be fixed including making the stage, balcony, and restrooms fully accessible for all patrons. Belita hopes to see the facility continue to evolve into a regional entertainment venue and truly become another “shining gem” for the city of Austin.
Her philosophy of life is best summed up in something she heard during her time while attending the Blandin Leadership Conference: “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”
