Robert Patrick Schmitt

Robert Patrick Schmitt, of Chester, MD, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, of cancer. Rob was 65. As the fifth of six children in their Catholic family, Rob’s parents (Col. Edward J. Schmitt, USAF-ret and Janet Crain Schmitt) had their hands full with constant moving and corralling six rambunctious kids (Gretchen, Christine, Jim, John, Rob, Katie). Rob was born at Eglin AFB in Florida, and the family lived on various Air Force bases in Florida, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Nebraska, Hawaii, Texas, and finally back to Louisiana. Rob attended college at the University of Central Florida in Orlando where he met the love of his life, Mary Holapa. They married May 23, 1987 at St. Joseph’s in Melbourne, FL, and were blessed with a marriage of 36 joy-filled years. Mary was Rob’s best friend and life-long confidant. Rob was very proud of and deeply cherished both of their children and was grateful they also found their forever partners. Alex Schmitt married Allison Rosales and Christian Schmitt Frank married Samuel Frank. Raising a family in the embrace of good friends and the community of the Holy Catholic Church was the cornerstone of Rob’s life. Rob liked to have fun and enjoyed life on Kent Island by boating and fishing in the local rivers and the Bay, bike riding, supporting local 4H clubs, and being in the Knights of Columbus. Rob was successful in business and was well-liked and appreciated. He was always the first one with a joke and was able to defuse tense situations while also being able to make clear and concise decisions. Rob was the fun uncle who could lighten the tone at any Schmitt family gathering. This was important because his siblings were strong-willed and assertive. Rob is preceded in death by his mother Janet; brother, John; brothers-in-law, Phil Pearce and Bill Scholl; nephew, Ian; niece, Erin; and in-laws, Carl and Hattie Holapa. There will be a visitation with family at 9 a.m. followed by the celebration of the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Chester, MD. Burial will follow Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Queenstown, MD. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Christopher’s Church in Chester, MD, with thanks for the love and support offered so freely to the whole community. “Our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest in you.” --St. Augustine

Robert Patrick Schmitt

August 15, 1958 - August 16, 2023