Historical April 1993 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
In writing about David Schmidt, I am reminded of the plot of the well-worn and much loved film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In this film the hem discovers what life in his town would have been like if he had never lived. Well, life in Skinker-DeBalivicre would have been much duller and poorer if it had not been for David Schmidt’s involvement in so many aspects of our neighborhood. Take the potatoes and cabbages.
For years they ran out during the St. Roch St. Patrick’s Dinner.
In 1969 David organized the kitchen help, counted the potatoes and cabbages, then arranged them by size, so that there was enough to go around. You want serious?
There was the time David and two other neighbors spotted a thief who had robbed a 77 year old woman of her purse. One summoned the police while the other two headed off the perpetrator where the alley meets Skinker. That was 1977 and David was named citizen of the month. Although by day David is a tax collector based at City Hall, he has gotten involved in dozens of programs in his spare time–Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts (even leading a troop in a challenging visit to Philmont, Ncw Mexico). David has served as treasurer for Rosedale Neighbors Pre-school Board and of the 28th Ward Regular Ikmocrats, served the Liturgy chair at St. Roch, and was involved with the Tot Lot at Pershing and Des Peres which some of you may recall. You want ‘human” interest? Since St, Koch is the Patron Saint of Dogs (check the bas relief above the school door), David instigated the blessing of dogs at the church.
On the Feast of St. Roth Msgr. Peet blessed the parish dogs brought to the church.
My recollections of David’s activities include his work, along with Lois Schoemehl and Cal Stuart, to organize support for the Kiosk. That tiny red library was plopped down in May of 1983, just ten years ago, at Kingsbury and Des Peres, where is served the neighborhood for almost all of those ten years. David Schmidt, along with a host of others, was in line at the Kiosk’s grand opening.
For years he came to the Kiosk’s Christmas party dressed at Santa. full of wonderful Ho, Ho’s A caring person, he always remembered to invite this writer to Thanksgiving dinner and other family festivities. Yes, his family! Of course, there is Barbara, who is head of the English Department at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
As Providence would have it, years ago it was she who served Kool-Aid to your graduate student David, while he was busy cleaning a 17th Ward alley as a John XXIII Sodality activity She was a young coed. Within a short time they married.
They now live in the 6100 block of McPherson. Their son Carl and daughter Rocll are away at college David has a serious heart condition and, perhaps somewhere down the line he may need a heart transplant.
We wish David luck and give him our prayers and many thanks for all he has contributed to the neighborhood.
Original photograph caption
David Schmidt. Photographer not individually credited in issue.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April 1993.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1993_04.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
