Penfield, NY: Paul B. Schmidt, born February 16, 1935, of Penfield, New York, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2023. Paul is predeceased by his parents George and Emma Schmidt, his brothers George and John Schmidt, and his grandsons Jason Sedita and Jeremiah Paul (JP) Schmidt. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joanne Kassman Schmidt, seven children, Paula (David) Sedita, Dianne Schmidt, Maureen Aguglia, Julie (Bob) Booth, Laura Schmidt, Ellen Schmidt, and Martin (Jodi) Schmidt, sister-in-law Nancy Schmidt, brother-in-law Gerard Kassman, 14 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and dozens of nieces and nephews.
He was deeply devoted to his Catholic faith serving God and his community his entire life. At age 12 he served as an altar boy for two years at the daily 6 AM mass in the chapel of Sisters of Charity. He graduated from Saint Augustine’s School, the Aquinas Institute, and St. John Fisher University. He earned his Master’s of Social Work from the University at Buffalo in 1962. Paul began his career at Catholic Family Center in the foster care and adoption department. He moved to become the Director of Social Services at St. Joseph’s Villa. The diocese of Rochester then appointed him Executive Director of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) where he managed over 50 athletic, service, and community programs for members across the diocese. He was also the Director of the Refugee Resettlement program. He served as a field instructor for the University at Buffalo and Syracuse University, mentoring graduate students in social work. Paul went on to work for the Monroe County Department of Social Services as a Supervisor of Child Protective Services which led him to become Executive Director at the Society of the Protection and Care of Children for youth residence homes. In 1975, Paul founded the Family Crisis Intervention Team for the Rochester Police Department where he led a staff of civilian professionals to assist with family crisis situations under the leadership of Chief Tom Hastings and Chief Delmare Leach. Paul was employed the next 38 plus years as a Psychiatric Assessment Officer in the emergency departments at Rochester General, Saint Mary’s, Genesee, and Parkridge Hospitals, eventually retiring at age 82.
Paul was a compassionate leader and servant of God, serving on the Board of Directors of the Mary Cariola Center, the Christmas Bureau and Alternatives for Battered Women which he also helped establish. He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus, earning the Knight of the Year Award for his service to the community and the Catholic faith. Paul served on the parish council at St. James and St. Joseph’s Churches and was a parishioner at St. Jerome’s Church for the last 20 plus years.
Paul was beloved by his children and grandchildren, standing as a giant in their lives literally and figuratively. He was reliable for bringing sweets and donuts everywhere he went, endearing family and even strangers to him. He played the role of Santa Claus every Christmas for his family and others served by the Christmas Bureau. He loved camping and spent many years traveling in his Hi-Lo camper with his wife Joanne. Paul was a skilled card player and was always up for a game of euchre, but not if it interrupted his beloved Buffalo Bills.
The family will be celebrating Paul’s life with a mass in early July. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the organizations dearest to Paul’s heart: the Aquinas Institute of Rochester, St. John Fisher University, and the Willow Domestic Violence Center of Greater Rochester.