Another Schaadt Drawing
On top of painting signs for local resorts and businesses, Schaadt did a wealth of sketches for his closest friends. Schaadt drew this Christmas card in 1962 for Charlie Napoli and his family (see the “Shad” insignia on the lower right). Each year Schaadt drew a handful of Christmas cards, it is unclear if it was a way for him to make a few extra bucks or if he just did it for fun. The accomplished artist loved to sketch.
As a boy Charlie Napoli befriended Bill and quickly became a consumed angler. Charlie was about as close as a young man could get to the reclusive angler. It was through Charlie that many other Russian River kids befriended Bill.
Later in life, Charlie and a companion were tragically killed while on a boat ride out of Bodega Bay. Charlie is fondly remembered by many of his now gray-haired Russian River boyhood friends.
