In Memoriam: Ed Schmidt

by Marsha Gebhardt
President, Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter

Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter has lost a dear and long-time member; someone significant to the native plant and biodiversity movement in the St. Louis region.  Ed Schmidt died Sunday, October 27, after being in hospice at his home for several months.  During that time groups of fellow native plant enthusiasts and environmentalists gathered at his home to bring his yard back to the cared-for beauty he had created.  It was a pleasure to be able to give back to one who had given so much to all of us.

 

 

 

Ed joined Wild Ones St. Louis in 2004.  In 2008 he became vice president and coordinator of the chapter’s Landscape Challenge.  He was president and continued as Landscape Challenge coordinator from 2010 through 2016. 

 

 

 

These words from Fran Glass give the best look at Ed’s deep commitment and broad impact.

Ed and I shared a parallel journey regarding our individual relationships to the environment.

I joined the Sierra Club in 1974, and shortly after met Ed.  He had joined a few years earlier.  Our first encounter was with the Environmental Education Committee which had been started by Dave Bedan.  When Dave was ready to turn the chairmanship over, Ed, who was a teacher, stepped in.  I was the secretary of the committee.  So we worked together in these roles for several years.  Ed always had great ideas for ways our committee could make an impact regarding environmental issues.  Our meetings were efficient in that Ed provided an agenda.

In 2004 Ed discovered the native landscape organization named Wild Ones.  I had been a founding member of the St. Louis Chapter.  Through Wild Ones Ed and I became what he called the “movers and shakers.”  Together we made some important changes within the chapter after he became chapter president and I chapter secretary.  These were the same positions we held on the Sierra Club’s Environmental Education Committee 30 years earlier.

We worked together closely as we brought our appreciation of the environment to our own backyards.  Under Ed’s leadership our board meetings became more efficient, the chapter grew, our membership meetings became more member- and guest-friendly with a very strong educational component.  We worked together as president and secretary for 6 years and felt a bond in our accomplishments. 

In 2014 I became Vice President of Wild Ones St. Louis.  I learned specifics and approach from Ed.  He prepared me to assume the role of president in 2016.  I am proud, and humble, to be able to build on my gentle and devoted predecessor’s work.

Ed, we miss your smile and we will honor your legacy.

Memorial Service
Saturday, November 16 at 2 pm
Ethical Society 
9001 Clayton Rd., 63117

To contribute to the planting of a native tree in memory of our past-president, Ed Schmidt, you can:

• Mail a check payable to Wild Ones and send to
  P. Holtzmann
  4008 Lynton Drive
  St Louis, MO 63129
• On the Website homepage, click on the DONATE button on the right.  You do not need to have a PayPal account. You can add a note to indicate that the donation is for Ed’s memorial.