|
Robert (Bob) Phil Schmidt, 75, of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, a life-long creative entrepreneur, and marketer, died August 20, 2022, from complications of heart failure at Lankenau Hospital. Born December 21, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan to Theodore (Ted) and Ida Schmidt (nee Dorman) after which he and his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where his father joined the family business. Bob graduated from Washington High School and then Marquette University majoring in Communications and Advertising. At age 20, Bob founded a successful advertising agency in Milwaukee that engaged in notable marketing campaigns for political candidates, financial, and retail food firms. His creative energy was boundless and his entrepreneurial initiatives flowed. While still in Milwaukee, he created the American “Thum Wrasslin” Association to foster the popularity of his table game, “Thum Wrasslin.” During this time Bob went on national tours demonstrating and conducting competitive meets. To his Wisconsin cousins, Bob was known and loved as “The Magician” because he was an accomplished teenage magician who entertained at their birthday parties. However, he never shared his tricks with them because as he said, “A magician never explains his tricks.” In the early 1970s, Bob relocated to New York City where he was employed by major advertising firms working for national clients in the financial services industry. While working in the advertising industry, he met and married Susan Richter in 1986, daughter of the advertising legend Jack Richter. The couple moved to Garden City, New York and had one son, Jonathan in 1989. Bob was a devoted father who loved his son unconditionally. As he had done previously, Bob was the clever magician at Jonathan’s birthday parties in Garden City. Jonathan has fond memories of the marvelous Halloween costumes Bob made each year. Among the most memorable were “worker bee with briefcase,” “a giant roll of lifesavers,” and a “big movie theater popcorn box.” The latter was constructed with industrial glue and real popcorn frustrating kids who tried to eat it. After recovering from a significant cardiovascular event in 2008, Bob relocated to Philadelphia where his entrepreneurial endeavors focused on marketing and included promoting the marketing rights to “Smoking” Joe Frazier. Most recently Bob was developing the concepts for franchising chicken and BBQ retail outlets and phantom kitchens. Bob is survived by his beloved son Jonathan who lives in Wynnewood, wife Susan Richter of Long Island, and brother Stuart M. Schmidt (Marsha Weinraub) of Philadelphia, nephews Ethan Theodore and Jeremy Michael Schmidt, and many loving cousins. Graveside services will be conducted 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, 415 East Athens Ave., Ardmore, Pennsylvania on Monday, August 29, 2022. Shiva will be observed on Monday, August 29, 2022, 7:00 pm at the home of Stuart M. Schmidt and Marsha Weinraub. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Chadwick & McKinney Funeral Home Inc. www.chadwickmckinney.com https://www.jsonline.com/obituaries/mjs067106
|