Campus mourns loss of Calvin Schmidt '51, longtime College administrator

Publication Date

The Union community mourns the loss of Calvin G. Schmidt ’51, whose career as a Union administrator spanned three decades. Schmidt, who retired as registrar in 1984, died July 9, 2012, after a battle with cancer. He was 82.

Cal Schmidt

A native of Valley Stream, Long Island, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Union in economics. While a student, he was a member of the baseball team and helped build and manage the Rathskeller. He lived on campus with the Whitaker and Ketz families.

After serving two years in the U.S. Army, he returned to the College in 1954 as an administrative assistant. In 1955, he became assistant director of admissions, and in 1958 added the duties of director of student aid. In 1964, he was named registrar, a position he held until he retired in 1984. He also served as recorder to the Board of Trustees from 1960 to 1984, and as faculty advisor to the Rathskeller.

He earned a master’s degree from Teachers College of Columbia University in 1958.

A member of the National Education Association and the Association for Higher Education, he was active in Schenectady as director and coach of Schenectady Babe Ruth Baseball. A 35-year member of the West Glenville Volunteer Fire Co., he served the organization as president and chief.

An active alumnus, he earned the Alumni Gold Medal in 1979.

An outdoor enthusiast, he was a avid canoeist and hiker. A passionate gardener, he often brought vegetables to campus friends from his farm in West Glenville. In his retirement, he enjoyed chronicling the flora and fauna on his farm for a growing internet audience.

Survivors include his brother, Herbert Schmidt of Scotia; and a sister, Joyce Pearson of Hopewell Junction.

Services were private.