Father Richard C. Schmidt, S.J., dies

The prefect of discipline in the 1960s at what is now Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Jesuit Father Richard C. Schmidt died Oct. 11 at age 84. A funeral Mass was held Oct. 17 at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in Woodstock, where burial followed.

Born in Lansdowne, Pa., Father Schmidt earned a bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine College in Plattsburg, N.Y., then studied at Woodstock College. He was ordained to the priesthood in June 1961 by Archbishop Francis P. Keough. He served Loyola Blakefield as prefect of discipline, 1963-70, then served Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, 1970-97, as prefect of discipline, custodian of buildings and grounds, and minister. The yard and statue of St. Ignatius there were dedicated to Father Schmidt in 2001.

He was an associate director and assistant to the director of the Loyola Retreat House in Faulkner, 1997-2012, and served in pastoral ministry with the St. Claude la Colombiere Jesuit Community in Roland Park, 2012-14.