Richard Schmidt, 71, of Strongsville, passed away peacefully on October 7, 2026. Rick was sadly taken from us too soon by cancer—not from some dangerous adventure or a blatant disregard for safety, as we feared every time he left the house. He faced his illness with the same fearless humor and determination that defined his entire life.
Central to Rick’s life was his immense faith in God and he found great comfort in praying daily with his family. Rick will be deeply missed by many.
Rick was the husband and best friend to Sherry for 50 wonderful years. He was a loving father to John (Kristen), Jim (Angie), and Julie (Dan). His greatest joy was instilling his love for adventure in his five grandchildren—Katie, Alex, Andrew, Madison, and Hailey—introducing them to a world of exploration, hikes, and handfuls of candy. He was the son of the late John Schmidt and Claire Pollack, and a devoted brother to Karen (Gary), Gary (Schar), Diane, and Suzanne (AJ).
Rick chose to donate his body to education at The Ohio State University Medical Center.
A Catholic Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church (16271 Pearl Road, Strongsville). A private burial will be held at a later date.