IN MEMORIAM: Wayne Schmidt ‘59
A Memorial service for the Rev. Wayne R.Schmidt has been scheduled:
June 4th, 2022, 11:00 am
St. George’s Episcopal Church
105 Grand Street
Newburgh, NY 12550
(845) 561-5355
Reception to follow at
Ship Lantern Inn
1725. Route 9W
Milton, NY. 12547
(845) 795-5400
www.shiplanterninn.com
We just received the news that the Rev. Wayne R. Schmidt, Class of 1959, died on December 24, 2020 surrounded by family at home in Newburgh, NY. Rector Emeritus of St. George's Church, Newburgh, Schmidt was born on February 20, 1934 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Wainwright Paul Schmidt and Gertrude Adelade Trulson [Thompson].
Schmidt spent most of his childhood and teenage years in Merrick, Long Island, attending Merrick's K-8th Grade School and the Wellington C. Mepham High School, graduating in 1952. He went to Hobart College in Geneva, NY majoring in anthropology and sociology with a minor in history and graduating in 1956. Having felt a strong call to ordained ministry, he then entered General and was ordained a Deacon on April 4, 1959 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City, Long Island and on October 10th of the same year, the Bishop of Long Island ordained him a priest. He served as an assistant at Saint Stephen's Port Washington and as an Assisting Priest at Saint James the Less in Scarsdale, Westchester County, NY with responsibility for youth work.
In 1964 Schmidt was appointed Priest in Charge of Saint Paul's Church in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County, NY, serving there for 11 years. In November 1975 he began his tenure as Rector of Saint George's Church, Newburgh where he served until his retirement on December 31, 1994. During his time at Saint George's, he served several terms as President of the Greater Newburgh Ministerial Association. He oversaw the expansion of the parish food program and was instrumental in providing space in the parish hall for the Coalition for Peoples' Rights, a local advocacy organization. He was also a member of Rotary International.
At the Diocesan level Schmidt served for ten years as a Trustee of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in NYC, the Seat of the Bishop of New York. He also was Chairman of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission for approximately twelve years, as they initiated programs to introduce the new Book of Common Prayer of 1979 and of the new Hymnal 1982, to the parishes of the Diocese by way of regional workshops. During his time as Chairman, the Commission also started a quarterly publication called "AMEN" which distributed position papers on various liturgical topics to the clergy of the Diocese.
Since his retirement at the beginning of 1995, he served as a supply priest in area parishes officiating during clergy vacations and as an Interim Priest during vacancies between Rectors or Priests in charge. He was subsequently hired as an Assistant Priest at Zion in Wappingers Falls for seven years. After retiring a second time, he began delivering Meals on Wheels in the greater Newburgh area and served on the Board of Directors. He and his wife Ann enjoyed their retirement traveling throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and many of the countries of Europe, especially to Norway, Sweden and Germany, his family's countries of origin. He toured the Holy Land in 2006, visiting the sites related to Jesus' birth, ministry and resurrection.
He is survived by his wife, Ann Devlin Schmidt; his sons, Wayne Burleigh Schmidt and wife, Joyce of Marstons Mills, MA and David George Schmidt and wife, Anne of Red Hook, NY; grandchildren: Elizabeth, Allyson, Dillan, Michael and Grace Louise; great-grandson, Aaron; and by his nephews and nieces: Michael and Scott Harris, Ellen Winslow and husband, Rob, Christine Egan and husband, Eric, and Keith and John Wilson. He is pre-deceased by his daughter, Anne Elizabeth; his sisters, Carole A. Harris and Susan G. Wilson and his nephew, Matthew Harris.
Schmidt's cremains were interred in St. George's Columbarium.
From a family obituary published by the Times Herald-Record from Dec. 31, 2020 to Jan. 3, 2021.