Frank Fabian Schmidt, 76, of Wilbraham, MA, passed away at home Thursday September 13th, 2018 with his loving wife, Geraldine by his side. Frank was born November 11, 1941 in New York City to Fabian and Katharina (Hum) Schmidt who were immigrants from Engelsprunn, Austria-Hungary. He graduated in 1959 from Scarborough School in Briarcliff Manor, NY and Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, in 1963.
Frank took over his father’s business, The Ornamental Iron Shop, in Springfield, MA upon his father’s death one month before his college graduation. He managed the business for 18 years. After the sale of the Iron Shop in 1981, he became a partner in the Wilbraham Spirit Shop and Plaza Package Store in Springfield with his brother John.
He retired in 2010. Frank was a wonderful family man. He and his wife Gerry were married for 54 years.
He is survived by their sons; Frank and his wife Theresa of St. Augustine, FL, Russell and his wife Antonella of Wilton, CT, and Michael of Charlotte, NC and his brother John of Wibraham, MA. He was a GREAT “Pop” to his eight grandchildren; Katie, Maggie, Max, Sofie, Sydney, Zoe, Damien and Ben. Frank was an exceptional athlete playing baseball, basketball and football.
Frank attributed all that he was to having played in his youth for the Colts Youth Club in Yonkers, NY that was started by an ex marine named Graham Dalzell. Frank feels this shaped him into the man he became. He continued his passion with sports by coaching many youth teams in in Wilbraham as well as his son’s teams over the years.
He led by example, a quiet strength that people were immediately drawn to and was a role model to many. A father to 3 boys and a surrogate to many others. To say he was well respected in his community would be an understatement, from his youthful days at the Colts Boys Club in NY to the very end of his life.
Being from NY he was an adamant Brooklyn Dodgers fan. When he moved to Massachusetts, he became a loyal Red Sox and Patriots fan and greatly enjoyed their long-delayed successes. Frank was a loving husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, brother- in-law, uncle and friend.
He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. We are all blessed to have been a part of his life and we will cherish his memory forever. Calling hours will be held Thursday, September 20th from 4PM-7PM at Wilbraham Funeral Home, 2551 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Frank Schmidt can be made to Colts Youth Club, 1585 Neppperhan Ave. , Yonkers, NY 10703. There will be a private burial at the convenience of the family at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.
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