Herbert Kurt Schmitz

SCHMITZ

HERBERT KURT SCHMITZ

Herbert Kurt Schmitz died in his home in Potomac, Maryland, Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at age 90. He was born in Inglewood, California, August 4, 1933, to immigrant parents from West Germany, and his first language was German. His family spoke German at home until the FBI posted surveillance personnel around the house during World War II. He graduated from Inglewood High School in 1951 and from the University of California at Berkeley in 1955 with a BS in business administration.



Herb was one of a group of students at Cal Berkeley that founded the California Indonesia (Cal/Indo) Society student club. He visited Indonesia as an undergraduate and did graduate study in economics in Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia on a Ford Foundation scholarship. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for three years in Germany and was commissioned as a reserve second lieutenant.



After Herb completed his military service, he joined American Can Company, which sent him to Koblenz, West Germany, where he and his young family lived in Pfalzfeld and Bonn for five years. After returning to the United States in 1969, he served as government relations manager for American Can. He began his government service when he participated in the President's Executive Exchange Program and moved his family to Potomac, Maryland, in 1973, where he worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He left government service to work as government affairs director and senior lobbyist in Washington, DC, for several corporations, representing business issues with government agencies.



Herb was a bon vivant with a larger than life personality. He loved to travel, and he visited almost every continent during his lifetime. He also was a very adventurous eater. He was a beloved neighbor and ex officio president of his homeowner's association. As a Master Gardener in the state of Maryland, Herb devoted hours to his own property and managing the landscaping of his townhouse development. He loved to play tennis and had many friends on the courts of Congressional Country Club. He also was involved with his Alzheimer's Support Group, where he met his lunch bunch friends. The International Student House honored Herb in 2014 for more than 35 years of service on the board.



Herb is predeceased by his wife Joyce Meyer Schmitz; his daughter Elizabeth Schmitz Marchetta; and his sister Eleanore Ida Snogren. He is survived by his daughter Kathryn L. Schmitz (daughter Vivian); son Michael R. Schmitz (wife Elizabeth sons Michael and Thomas); and his daughter Elizabeth's daughter Amanda and son William and husband Vincent Marchetta.



Memorial arrangements will be made at a later time; Herb's Gmail is being monitored. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Herb's memory to the International Student House in Washington, DC.