June 29, 2011 - San Gabriel Valley Examiner

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S.G.V. EXAMINER
A Very Special Father:
Richard Dale Blake Schmidt
By Joan Schmidt
Richard Dale Blake was born
May 8, 1942, in Columbus,
Ohio, the 2nd youngest of eight
children. Times were difficult
& the children were all placed
in foster homes, when Richard
was only four. He was shuffled
though different homes and
eventually was adopted by the
Schmidt’s when nine years old.
With the Schmidt’s, he was
confirmed and there were some
happy memories going to the
grandparent’s farm, and to a
cabin every summer. At seventeen,
he enlisted into the Army.
He was in for one tour. Then
returned to Ohio to look up his
biological family. He was reunited
with his siblings and
worked for his brother, Bill, a
contractor. He painted and even
laid brick. He was one of those
people who could fix anything.
However this was not the life
he wanted, so he re-enlisted.
I met Richard when he was
a Staff Sergeant at Stewart Air
Force Base, Newburgh, New
York, only because of a mail
strike. We were married
twenty-two years, fourteen of
those while he was in the military;
the last eight years, he was
on a special defense project at
JPL.
Richard was a man who
overcame hardships as a child,
and very difficult times in Viet
Nam to become a loving person
devoted to his family, kind
and helpful to all in need and
outstanding in his job. In Nam,
he helped run orphanages. He
SAN DIMAS - Please join us
for the inaugural James A. Martin
Memorial Walk for PH on
Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 10
AM! This 5K PHun walk promises
to be a day filled with feelgood
moments as we “JAM for
PHA” with two laps around the
beautiful South Shore of
Puddingstone Lake in Bonelli
Regional Park in San Dimas located
at 120 Via Verde, San
Dimas. Directly following is an
Opportunity Drawing and catered
lunch in the West Picnic
Valley.
All types of walkers are welcome;
so grab your family,
friends, strollers or wagons and
join us as much as health and
interest will allow. Registration
begins at 9 a.m. followed by the
walk beginning at 10 a.m.
The James A. Martin Memorial
Walk for PH is an upbeat
community event honoring the
memory of Jim Martin, an extraordinary
and loving husband,
father and grandfather who
passed away in January 2010
from pulmonary hypertension
(PH), a debilitating lung disease
currently with no cure.
Jim was a loyal and enthusiastic
resident of our local community
for 32 years. He would
be so proud of us gathering together
to walk in his selfless
footsteps to raise money in his
name to benefit those who still
suffer from this devastating illness.
felt a bond to those children
because of his difficult childhood.
Later in his life, he helped
at homeless shelters and shelters
for abused women. They
trusted him because of his
empathetic, kind manner. He
could be gentle with people
when needed or tough and
strong if necessary. Anything he
did, he was meticulous with. He
could take charge in any situation
when needed. He received
so many medals and awards
during his career- many I didn’t
know about because he was so
modest.
Several years ago, he went
back to Ohio, and two beloved
sisters had passed away. That
was a bitter disappointment. But
he did get to visit with siblings,
Bobbie and Don. Again, whenever
a disappointment or hardship
arose, Richard would pick
himself up and go on. This
Father’s Day was very difficult
for our three children, Richard,
Karen and Kristine; their
Inaugural James A. Martin
Memorial Walk for PH
As a thank you, an event tshirt
and goodie bag comes with
each paid adult registration and
children under 12 walk for free!
All proceeds will support the
Pulmonary Hypertension Association
(PHA), whose efforts
are dedicated to creating better
public understanding of this illness,
connecting PH patients,
caregivers and medical professionals,
and ultimately finding a
PH cure.
On behalf of PHA and my
family, I humbly thank you in
advance for your support and
generosity. I believe, just as my
father did, that there is hope,
"PHenomenal" hope that events
like ours will make a difference.
Questions? Please contact,
Bernie Gore, Event Chair at
626.524.1971 or
JAMforPHA@yahoo.com.
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spouses Melissa and Chris and
grandchildren, Sean, Richard,
Jennifer and Jacob. But they
must remember that their Dad
overcame many hardships and
accomplished much during his
lifetime.
Richard Dale Blake died June
13, 2010.
The San Gabriel Valley Examiner
June 23 - 29, 2011
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