James Vincent Schmidt (Jim) died on Friday, December 6, 2013 at home in Laguna Niguel, California. He was 74 years old. The cause of death was Lymphoma Hodgkins Disease.

James Vincent Schmidt was born the younger of two children to Vincent and Ida Schmidt in Detroit, Michigan on April 15, 1939. His sister, Lee, is 3 years older than him. They were close as brother and sister growing up in Detroit and remained close as adults. Jim and his sister were ½ Italian and ½ German. Their maternal grandparents emigrated from Italy and their paternal grandfather emigrated from Germany.

Jim graduated in 1957 from St. Anthony's, an All-boys Catholic High School in downtown Detroit. In 2007, he attended his graduating class's 50th Reunion in Michigan and renewed meaningful friendships. One of the earliest vehicles he owned was a red 1957 Chevy with white upholstery. Jim served in the National Guard in Michigan for years.

He has two daughters from a previous marriage: Tammi Schmidt and Mindi DeSilva.

On May 21, 1977, he married Linda Schreiner at Crown Valley Covenant Church in Laguna Niguel, California. They were married for 36 years.

In 1957, Jim began his career with General Motors as a Metal Model Maker. In 1961, he moved from Detroit, Michigan to Southern California – driving on Route 66. From 1962 through 1967, he worked as a Senior Technician for North American Rockwell, and in 1965 he began testing spacecraft for them at their facility in Simi Valley, California. During that time, NASA asked the facility to recreate a vacuum similating the explsion of the Apollo 13 spacecraft. NASA wanted them to figure out what happened, why it exploded, and fix it. Jim was involved in that experience. From 1969 through 1973, he performed environmental testing of military and aerospace hardware for Rockwell International. He moved to Orange County in 1973 when he started working for ITT Industries – Cannon as a Supervisor of Product Evaluation Lab; he remained with ITT Cannon until his retirement in 2008.

Jim received several awards during his tenure with ITT Industries – Cannon. In 1981, he received the Marketing Support Award. In 2003, he received the ITT New Product Development Excellence Award. In 2005, he was awarded the ITT Ring of Quality. Later in 2005, he was distinguished with the ITT Industries Raytheon XBR Team Outstanding Personal Contribution to the ITT Industries Quality Program.

Jim loved music. He attended musical theater productions at Saddleback College. He enjoyed outdoor organ concerts at Balboa Park in San Diego. Elizabeth Howard's Curtain Call Dinner Theater in Tustin, California, was his favorite place to see musical theater productions. Around the corner from the dinner theater was his favorite restaurant, Roma D' Italia.

When he was a young adult, Jim accepted Christ as his personal Savior. He served as an usher for many years at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church. He also served as Chairman of the Deacons after previously serving several terms as a deacon. He taught children's Sunday School classes and participated in small group Bible studies.

He is survived by wife Linda Schmidt; daughter Tamara Schmidt and granddaughter Kendra DeSilva; daughter Malinda DeSilva and granddaughter Reagan; stepdaughter Susan Schreiner; stepson John Schreiner (Cathy Schreiner) grandchildren Audrey and Henry Schreiner; stepdaughter Karen Schreiner Woods (Dr. L. Shelton Woods) grandson Lindsay Woods; stepdaughter Stephanie Schreiner (Lee Jay); sister Lee Hersha (Al Hersha); niece Linda Lange (Allen Lange); nephew Mark Hersha (Diane Hersha); niece Suzanne Johnson (Bob Johnson); nephew Dan Hersha and many great nieces and nephews.

Jim had a great sense of humor which made others feel comfortable around him. He possessed a generous spirit of giving and sharing his success with others.



The memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 3pm at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church located at 30071 Ivy Glenn Drive, Laguna Niguel, California 92677. (949) 249-1218.

Dr. Randy Steele, Senior Pastor of Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church is officiating. A light reception immediately follows the service.

A private service will be held for the family at El Toro Memorial Park; 25751 Trabuco Road; Lake Forest, California 92630.