David James Schmidt

1926 - 2016

Mystic - David James Schmidt, 89, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016.

David was born May, 8, 1926 in West Orange, N.J. His family lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., then moved to Buffalo, N.Y. where David enjoyed raising and racing carrier pigeons. After moving back to New Jersey, David graduated in 1944 from Caldwell High School (where he won a state championship in pole vaulting), then joined the U.S. Navy. David attended the Newark College of Engineering and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in 1952 from the Brooklyn Polytech Institute.

In 1950 David married his sweetheart, Edith Virginia "Ginny" Winters. Together, for 65 years, they lived a full and long life rich with family, friends, and pets, raised their three daughters and enjoyed their five grandchildren. They loved tending to their house and yard, boating, traveling and serving their community and church.

David was on the cutting edge of the plastic industry and became nationally known as an expert in his field. He was employed by several companies, including Otis Elevator, Minnesota Mining, W.R. Grace, General Motors and Davis Standard in Stonington.

He was predeceased by his parents, Harrry Schmidt and Emma Rose Olliffe; and his brother, Harry O. Schmidt.

David will be greatly missed by his wife, Edith Virginia Schmidt; his daughters, Laurelyn Gavitt and her husband William Gavitt, Linda Joy Santos and Lisa Ellen Timbers and her husband, Mike Timbers. David's five grandchildren, Travis Santos, Megan and Greg Gavitt, and Becky and Will Timbers, all fondly remember childhood summer vacations with their grandparents and will miss their "grandda".

A celebration of David's life will take place at 11 a.m. May 6, at the Mystic Congregational Church. Another notice of this memorial service will be published in The Day closer to the date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in his memory to the Paralyzed Veterans of America.