Obituary for Frank John Schmitt
Frank, 88, left for heaven from Van Rensselaer Manor in Troy, in the early morning of Saturday June 20, 2020. He was surrounded by his wife of 55 1/2 years, Frances E. (Abele) Schmitt, his ever-devoted youngest daughter, Colleen A. Schmitt (Clifton Park) and her husband, Chris Schild. His journey to peace is led by his grandson, Caden Schmitt Schild who predeceased him in 2008. He is also predeceased by his parents, Karl Schmitt (1983) and Mary (Seit) Schmitt (1992) of Albany. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Chloe Schmitt Schild, his daughter Marlene A. Schmitt Colclough (Rick Colclough) of Guilderland, his 90 year old brother Alfred K. Schmitt of Latham and his 92 year old sister Marty (Schmitt) Denninger of Colonie. There are also loved nieces and nephews, godchildren and dear friends. He is also proud grandfather to Vadim who in the process of being adopted from across the world.
Frank was born to German immigrants and grew up on Elk Street in Albany. After marrying in 1964, he and Frances lived on Broadway in Menands. Shortly thereafter, they bought their family home in Loudonville, raising their 2 daughters Marlene and Colleen and enjoyed various pets in the home. Later on they lived at The Beltrone Senior Apartments in Colonie, the Terrace at Beverwyck, Eddy Village Green at Beverwyck, and finally Van Rensselear Manor. Frank served in the Navy as an airman in Pensacola FL during the Korean War. He attended college on the GI Bill at SUNY Oswego and SUNY Albany, earning 2 Masters degrees (Guidance & Counseling and Education) and was also certified as a secondary school principal. Frank initially worked at IBM then taught Industrial Arts at Shaker High School for 26 years, retiring in 1988. There he won CDIAA Teacher of the Year. He was very proud of starting the soccer program at North Colonie Schools. He also enjoyed teaching Drivers Education. Frank’s favorite activities were golfing, watching movies and watching sports, especially Yankees baseball and Giants football. But mostly, Frank loved to fish. Frances says Frank would fish 8 days a week. Fisherman extraordinaire, he kept a diary of his fishing escapades. He is responsible for 3 generations of local ‘fisherman’ as whomever he taught then taught someone else who taught someone else. His earlier favorite places were a family cabin on Cossayuna Lake, his boat dock on Saratoga Lake, and Wellfleet Cape Cod. In later years his favorite place was at Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach where he designed their small retirement home on the beach. He loved driving the golf cart in the early morning to get a cup of coffee at the campground store and looking at the different types of campers as the family had owned a pop-up camper. These special spots were enjoyed in between the many projects he did for 46 years on the family home. The family’s church was initially St Joan of Arc of Menands then St Pius X of Loudonville. Frank enjoyed small groups and 1-on-1 visits. Colleen always knew what Frank was trying to communicate when no one else would due to Parkinsons. Frank appeared unassuming to outsiders but those close to him knew him as a generous, humble mentor with a great dry wit that he passed onto Colleen. Frank and Colleen had a special bond. He enjoyed teaching and playing sports with her growing up, was so proud of her career accomplishments and walked her down the aisle at her wedding. Besides being proud of Colleen, Frank spent his life supporting his wife Fran and her family, being proud to be asked to design his brother-in-law’s house on Lake George. He enjoyed regularly eating out with his daughter Marlene and her husband and making Sunday morning pancakes for the family when the girls were young.
The COVID pandemic caused VRM to close to visitors in early March 2020, limiting family access to Frank and Fran. When even window visits were held due to covid, Frank decided to take matters into his own hands and made plans for his next adventure, being heaven where he could spend Father’s Day with his grandson and his parents for the first time in a long time. For his weekend long journey to heaven, in typical Frank fashion, he left early morning to beat the bridge traffic to Cape Cod, is sure to have had his boat already hitched to go fishing on Saratoga Lake and his suitcase packed for Myrtle Beach.
Services are arranged by Parker Brothers in Watervliet with the public invited to calling hours/to visit with the family at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church , Watervliet from 10-11am Tuesday June 23 then Mass to follow at 11am and interment to follow at St Agnes Cemetery on Broadway in Menands. In different times, services would have been at St Joan of Arc Church in Menands but Immaculate Heart was chosen as it is able to hold 100 people even with the Covid social distancing guidelines of a small percentage of occupancy. Social distancing and/or masks and hand gel are appropriate to bring. Due to Covid, a celebration of life will be scheduled by family later in the year and they hope you will join them then by invite for a gathering/meal. Flowers are being limited due to severe allergies. If you wish to make a donation instead, Frank’s family wishes them to be directed to Colleen Schmitt (address can be provided by Parker Brothers) to support the homecoming of Frank’s beloved grandsons waiting across the world.
Please share your memories or a thought with the family on the online memory page.
Frank was born to German immigrants and grew up on Elk Street in Albany. After marrying in 1964, he and Frances lived on Broadway in Menands. Shortly thereafter, they bought their family home in Loudonville, raising their 2 daughters Marlene and Colleen and enjoyed various pets in the home. Later on they lived at The Beltrone Senior Apartments in Colonie, the Terrace at Beverwyck, Eddy Village Green at Beverwyck, and finally Van Rensselear Manor. Frank served in the Navy as an airman in Pensacola FL during the Korean War. He attended college on the GI Bill at SUNY Oswego and SUNY Albany, earning 2 Masters degrees (Guidance & Counseling and Education) and was also certified as a secondary school principal. Frank initially worked at IBM then taught Industrial Arts at Shaker High School for 26 years, retiring in 1988. There he won CDIAA Teacher of the Year. He was very proud of starting the soccer program at North Colonie Schools. He also enjoyed teaching Drivers Education. Frank’s favorite activities were golfing, watching movies and watching sports, especially Yankees baseball and Giants football. But mostly, Frank loved to fish. Frances says Frank would fish 8 days a week. Fisherman extraordinaire, he kept a diary of his fishing escapades. He is responsible for 3 generations of local ‘fisherman’ as whomever he taught then taught someone else who taught someone else. His earlier favorite places were a family cabin on Cossayuna Lake, his boat dock on Saratoga Lake, and Wellfleet Cape Cod. In later years his favorite place was at Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach where he designed their small retirement home on the beach. He loved driving the golf cart in the early morning to get a cup of coffee at the campground store and looking at the different types of campers as the family had owned a pop-up camper. These special spots were enjoyed in between the many projects he did for 46 years on the family home. The family’s church was initially St Joan of Arc of Menands then St Pius X of Loudonville. Frank enjoyed small groups and 1-on-1 visits. Colleen always knew what Frank was trying to communicate when no one else would due to Parkinsons. Frank appeared unassuming to outsiders but those close to him knew him as a generous, humble mentor with a great dry wit that he passed onto Colleen. Frank and Colleen had a special bond. He enjoyed teaching and playing sports with her growing up, was so proud of her career accomplishments and walked her down the aisle at her wedding. Besides being proud of Colleen, Frank spent his life supporting his wife Fran and her family, being proud to be asked to design his brother-in-law’s house on Lake George. He enjoyed regularly eating out with his daughter Marlene and her husband and making Sunday morning pancakes for the family when the girls were young.
The COVID pandemic caused VRM to close to visitors in early March 2020, limiting family access to Frank and Fran. When even window visits were held due to covid, Frank decided to take matters into his own hands and made plans for his next adventure, being heaven where he could spend Father’s Day with his grandson and his parents for the first time in a long time. For his weekend long journey to heaven, in typical Frank fashion, he left early morning to beat the bridge traffic to Cape Cod, is sure to have had his boat already hitched to go fishing on Saratoga Lake and his suitcase packed for Myrtle Beach.
Services are arranged by Parker Brothers in Watervliet with the public invited to calling hours/to visit with the family at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church , Watervliet from 10-11am Tuesday June 23 then Mass to follow at 11am and interment to follow at St Agnes Cemetery on Broadway in Menands. In different times, services would have been at St Joan of Arc Church in Menands but Immaculate Heart was chosen as it is able to hold 100 people even with the Covid social distancing guidelines of a small percentage of occupancy. Social distancing and/or masks and hand gel are appropriate to bring. Due to Covid, a celebration of life will be scheduled by family later in the year and they hope you will join them then by invite for a gathering/meal. Flowers are being limited due to severe allergies. If you wish to make a donation instead, Frank’s family wishes them to be directed to Colleen Schmitt (address can be provided by Parker Brothers) to support the homecoming of Frank’s beloved grandsons waiting across the world.
Please share your memories or a thought with the family on the online memory page.