David Michael Schmidt

David Michael Schmidt was born on May 5, 1965 in Camden County, New Jersey to Ellen Schmidt (Williams) and William (Bill) Schmidt.  The youngest of 4 brothers and one of over a hundred cousins, David was never without a playmate or co-conspirator.  A kind and loving brother and son, David grew up in Catalina Hills with little league, Boy Scouts, bicycles, and lifelong friends.

Enjoying a career in artisan craftmanship, David lived for most of his adult life in Magnolia and Collingswood, New Jersey.  His favorite pastimes were skiing, sailing and fishing with friends and family. Almost a decade ago, David moved to North Carolina to enjoy family in the south, where he spent time fishing in the Haw River, cooking meals for friends and neighbors in need, and spoiling his nieces.

One of David’s great loves was his dog, Maxine.  While not the first dog in Dave’s life, Maxine was special.  David found her in a wagon full of barn puppies at an Old Fashioned Farmer’s Day event, and - against their parents’ wishes - he scooped up the tiny puppy and deposited her into the laps of small nieces and friends, to their great joy.  Maxine took good care of David for the rest of his life, providing him with ample opportunity to engage other animal lovers wherever they went (Maxine will continue her work on Dave’s brother’s farm in North Carolina.)

David was a friend to everyone he met from the moment he met them.  He would give anything he had to anyone who needed it just for the asking.  He rarely forgot a birthday or failed to notice a new flower or paint color, and in an age of text and instant messaging, continued to make social phone calls “just because.” 

His network of friends made and held over the years was a constant source of support, even when distance was wide, and David was thankful for the endurance of those relationships.  The family likewise is forever grateful for the joy and connectedness those friendships gave him.  Friendships were David’s wealth, and he considered himself a rich man.

Of all of his relationships, his position as son was his most valued.  David cherished his parents as every child should, and rarely let a day pass without a phone call or two just to talk.  The faith instilled in him by his mother and father served as a beacon of hope every day as he remained focus on their example.

David is survived by his parents, Bill and Ellen Schmidt, brothers, Bill, Bob, and Greg Schmidt, sister Valerie, nephews William and Jacob, and nieces Alex, Eleasha, Taylor, Justine, Carly, Georgia, and Emma Schmidt, as well as hundreds of cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends that were chosen family.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend David’s viewing on Friday, June 19, 2020 from 10 am to 12 noon at the Healey Funeral Home: 9 White Horse Pike (at Kings Highway), Haddon Heights. Catholic Committal Prayers and Interment Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill.

Family requests memorial donations in David’s memory to Cora Food Pantry https://www.corafoodpantry.org/ Direct donation page:

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/corfoopan/?_ga=2.28934329.408180251.1592420859-749524100.1592420859

Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of David Michael Schmidt. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCann-Healey Funeral Home: Gloucester City