Obituaries
Winsor Chase Schmidt MD, 94
July 24, 2014
Winsor Chase Schmidt MD, age 94, died Thursday, July 24, 2014 at Hospice and Community Care of Mount Joy after a brief illness. Born in Evanston IL, he was the son of Werner Bruno and Margaret Chase Schmidt. He and his wife, Miriam Tebbetts Schmidt, celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on July 5th.
Chase graduated with honors from Yale University and Harvard Medical School. He won keys from Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma XI, and Alpha Omega Alpha. He served as a physician for the Wabash Railroad in Missouri and as a Captain in the Army Medical Corps during the Korean conflict. For most of his career, Chase was a general practitioner in Tioga County NY and Elmsford NY. During his country and general practices, he made more than seventeen thousand house calls and delivered two hundred and eighty-one babies. At the age of 48 he became an orthopedic surgeon with a private practice in Sleepy Hollow NY. Chase was an Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopedic Surgery at New York Medical College and President of the Medical Staff and Chairman of the Medical Board at Phelps Memorial Hospital.
After his retirement in 1987 Chase lived near Rohrerstown PA, played bad golf at Four Seasons and good chess at the Red Rose Chess Club of Lancaster. He played chess every Wednesday until two weeks prior to his passing. He and his wife Miriam loved to travel, visiting various European countries, Iceland, Turkey, and all 50 states, with cruises to Alaska and the Hawaiian islands. He led a cultured life; he enjoyed classical music, ballet, opera, Broadway plays and, during his retirement, availed himself of the wonderful talents seen at Fulton Opera House and the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. He read voraciously, especially biographies and history. He was a learned man, he was an energetic man, and he was his own man.
Survivors in addition to his wife are two sons, Winsor Chase Jr. (Lenore) of Louisville KY and Emmett Vance (Debby) of Ambler PA, one daughter Deborah Jill, (Joel Haimes) of Mount Joy PA, seven grandchildren, Winsor Schmidt III (Aleksandra), Benjamin Schmidt (Stephanie), Meredith Edelstein (Jason), Daniel Schmidt, Cari Haimes, Andrea Haimes, and David Haimes. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Maxwell, Hannah, and Clara with baby Chase expected in September. A brother, Werner Felix Schmidt and a sister Dorothea M. Wender predeceased him. Chase liked quizzing his family on historical events and telling stories. He enjoyed fishing with his sons, going to the horse races with his brother and then his children, camping, hiking, and traveling to battlefields and National Parks across the US. He painted and he built a boat. We miss him.
“Awake for morning in the bowl of night hath flung the stone that put the stars to flight.”
The family will celebrate Chase’s life at a later time. Contributions in his memory may be made to Water Street Rescue Missions, 210 S Prince St, Lancaster PA 17603 or Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, www.hawkmountain.org.
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Condolences to the Family
April 14, 2022
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Capt. Windsor Chase Schmidt, M.D. he was my commanding officer at the dispensary that we both served at at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. I was his noncommissioned officer in charge of the dispensary. He was a fine officer, a very good doctoor and a good friend. My best to the family
August 08, 2014
I first met Dr. Schmidt on a Wednesday night many years ago at the Red Rose Chess Club of Lancaster, PA. From the very beginning I was taught, amused, entertained, and charmed by his very practical approach to life and chess. Always wearing a smile, Dr. Schmidt’s erudition and zest for life were apparent in every move he made both on and off the chessboard. A very funny and inspiring man, his spirit permeated every corner of the chess club as his faithful presence there every Wednesday night served as a bridge linking all of us to multiple generations of the game’s finest practioners. Young and old alike have revered this man’s wisdom and example and will continue to do so for many generations to come. He will surely be missed. My heartfelt condolences are extended to the whole family and especially to his very kind daughter Jill whom I had the privilige of meeting several times. May God grant you the peace, serenity, and strength needed to navigate through this difficult time.
Manuel A. Luna-Murray
August 07, 2014
I am writing this for my Mother, Peggy Morrow, who became quite emotional recalling how grateful she was for the many house calls Dr Schmidt made to our home in the 1960s. His expertise, kindness, and caring are legend in our family and we remember him fondly with absolute gratitude. Most Sincere Condolences, Ann Morrow (one of the 281)
August 04, 2014
Jill and family, I just learned of Dr. Schmidt’s death last night. I liked him very much and appreciated his input on various orthopedic product concepts as he was of strong opinions and thorough reasoning. Please convey my sympathies to your mother and brothers.
James Beal
August 01, 2014
My condolences and prayers are with your family. I am blessed to have had my son have the privledege of playing chess with him at barnes n noble. He would play with my son and his friends, and teach them as they played. He will be missed
August 01, 2014
A man most generous with his time, his energy, his wit and wisdom, his spirit, his athletic prowess…OK, he may have been much better at playing chess or bridge than football, but he was always willing to pitch in when we teenagers needed an extra man. That alone spoke volumes about who he was.
He made the world a better place and enriched the lives of those of us fortunate enough to have known him.
Go long, Dr. Schmidt. The last pass is in your hands now. Touchdown!
Robert
July 30, 2014
I am very sorry about your loss , Jill and all the family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
July 29, 2014
I am so sorry for your loss, Jill. Your Dad sounds like the most remarkable man, but of course I would have expected him to be just because of the daughter he left behind. Keep the joy of his life close to your heart.
Robin Raskin
July 29, 2014
I am so sorry about your loss. He left this world with a wonderful legacy.
Sherry Shameer Cohen
