Paul Wm. Schmidt passed away at Fairview on Friday, July 20, after a bout with cancer and other ailments. He was 86. He was born on January 11, 1926 in Philadelphia PA to Harry John and Elsa Dorothea Schmidt. Dorothea died shortly after Paul's birth. He was raised by Harry and Janet Taylor Schmidt.
He graduated from Central High School for Boys in Philadelphia in 1943 and began studies at Penn State University. Drafted into the Army in World War II, he was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge and received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other commendations. Following military service he studied at University of Pennsylvania and graduated from Montana State with an engineering degree. Graduate work was begun at V P I.
His work experience included Westinghouse Electric Corporation, OffShore Power Systems, and Electric Boat Division, where he worked on the shielding of the NAUTILUS. He retired from EB in 1990, then worked at the Mystic Aquarium. He received recognition for his 20 years of service to that institution in 2011.
Paul and Marguerite A. Fardy were married on April 18, 1959 at St. James Episcopal Church in New London. She survives, as do their two daughters - Paula A. Schmidt Rabe (Arthur) of Newton, MA. and Meg Miner Schmidt Mayer-Costa (Carlos) of Gibsonia, PA. Two grandsons, Tomas Miner Mayer-Costa and Mario Paul Mayer-Costa will also miss their grandfather.
Other surviving relatives include a cousin, Harmer Schmidt of King of Prussia PA and nephews, Donald Miller and David Miller.
The Civil War was a keen interest of Paul's throughout his life. He traveled the battlefields and other related sites and had an extensive library of resources. He was a fifty-plus year member of the Philadelphia-Potter Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons.
Donations in Paul's memory may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church.
A Memorial Eucharist will be held at 11 am on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at St. Marks' Church, 15 Pearl Street, Mystic. Burial will follow in St. Mark's Memorial Garden.
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