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Mary Kathryn Schmitz (1939 - 2022)

Online memorial was created by Michael on 07-09-2022

Mary Kathryn St Peter Schmitz died peacefully June 30, in Oakland, CA surrounded by her loving family. She was 83.

She is preceded in death by Dr. Thomas D Schmitz, her husband of 53 years.

From her start, in Fond du Lac Wisconsin, to Oakland, California, her chosen home of many decades, Mary lived a remarkable life shaped by a love of learning, nature, and literature.

She passed to her greatest love - her children and grandchildren - the practice of thoughtful civic engagement and care for others. They adored her, as did pretty much every one who knew her.

From the start it was clear she was very smart. An excellent student right through her university and post-graduate studies, she was also a teacher. One example was her work with the Oakland Museum where she, as a trained scientist, worked as a docent, teaching people to love the desert as well as creating touch exhibits for sight-impaired children.

She mastered gourmet cooking from her first miserable failure at Welsh Rarebit as a young bride. From that inglorious beginning, eventually she learned to feed her world. Over the years thousands gathered around her table to enjoy her feasts.

She was a champion downhill and slalom racer during her college years in Colorado. An avid recreational tennis player, her greatest love was golf. She played in championships locally, regionally, and nationally and loved the community golf gave as a player, a Green committee member and a course rater.

One of the more surprising turns in her life was becoming a businesswoman. Faced with keeping the health club she owned with Tom financially competitive, she took on the active role of Chief Executive, turning the Courthouse Athletic Club into a profitable business employing hundreds and attracting thousands of satisfied members over three decades.

She is survived by her four children Michael (Catherine Atkin), David (Pam), Mark, Jane (Adam Richards) and six grandchildren, Leslie, Charlie, Max, Erin, Theo and Ian. Her oldest brother Michael (survived by Mary Ann) preceded her in death. Her five remaining siblings are Christine, Charlie, John, Therese and David.

She was the family hearthstone, with an easy laugh and someone who filled a room with love.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 13th at 10:30 a.m., at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.

Among her many contributions Mary gave of her time and resources to Oakland Elizabeth House () in Oakland and . If you wish to make a donation in her honor, the family suggests giving to one of these, to your favorite charity, or take time, as Mary would, spreading joy and laughter.