Obituary for David Arthur Schmitz
David Arthur Schmitz, 76, died peacefully on Saturday March 4th, 2023, surrounded by his wife and children, at the CCH, after battling complications with COVID and Myasthenia gravis (MG). Dave is survived and deeply missed by his wife and partner of 40 years, Julie Schmitz, and his six children, Ryan (Sarah), Tim (Isabelle), Kelsey (Nick), Kurtis (Jessica), Amanda (Eric), and Brandon.The proud grandfather of 11 grandchildren, Micah, Eva, Abel, Esme, Lily, Liam, Dominic, Mya, Colton, Jack and Josephine, and was thrilled to learn before his passing of a 12th grandchild on the way. The “Bear” will also be greatly missed by his brothers Norm (Renée) and Ron (Donna), and nieces and nephews, as well as his sisters in law Hélène Mousseau and Susan Parent (Steve), and extended family and friends. He was also a proud pet papa, and would want his love of his pets remembered.
Born and raised in Montreal to Catherine Main MacKenzie (d.1986) and Jerome Schmitz (d.1994), he trained as an air traffic controller, and met a variety of friends and characters at the towers he worked at across Canada before meeting Julie during his years of teaching at TCTI in Cornwall. He and Julie opened their home as foster parents for a number of years for CAS SDG. Dave was known by community members in his retirement years as the “coffee guy” at Cristill Rock. He spent many years volunteering as a local coach, supporting young people as they learned softball, baseball and football (Cornwall Minor Football) in our community. Even as his health deteriorated, “Coach Dave” spent his last few summers coaching for the Optimist Club of Cornwall softball league, which brought him a lot of joy. As a tribute to this love of sport, his family asks those who wish to remember him to donate in his memory to the Optimist Club of Cornwall, to help young people pay for league fees. Donations can be made on the Optimist Club website https://optimistclubofcornwall.org/ or to the family directly. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Born and raised in Montreal to Catherine Main MacKenzie (d.1986) and Jerome Schmitz (d.1994), he trained as an air traffic controller, and met a variety of friends and characters at the towers he worked at across Canada before meeting Julie during his years of teaching at TCTI in Cornwall. He and Julie opened their home as foster parents for a number of years for CAS SDG. Dave was known by community members in his retirement years as the “coffee guy” at Cristill Rock. He spent many years volunteering as a local coach, supporting young people as they learned softball, baseball and football (Cornwall Minor Football) in our community. Even as his health deteriorated, “Coach Dave” spent his last few summers coaching for the Optimist Club of Cornwall softball league, which brought him a lot of joy. As a tribute to this love of sport, his family asks those who wish to remember him to donate in his memory to the Optimist Club of Cornwall, to help young people pay for league fees. Donations can be made on the Optimist Club website https://optimistclubofcornwall.org/ or to the family directly. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.