Jacqueline Schmidt

JACQUELINE Y.C. SCHMIDT, “THE CAPTAINS LADY” PASSED PEACEFULLY TO BE WITH HER LORD, WITH HER LOVING FAMILY BY HER SIDE, ON FEBRUARY 6, 2013. SHE WAS BORN IN AKRON, NY ON JULY 12TH TO LOIS AND ORIN PACKMAN. SHE WAS A FAITHFUL MEMBER OF THE CAMDEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

AFTER HER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION SHE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF MARLAND AND COMPLETED STUDIES IN PSYCHOLOGY AND THE HUMANITIES. UPON COMPLETION OF HER EDUCATION JACQUI ACCEPTED A POSITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE-ARMY INTELLIGENCE AT THE PENTAGON IN WASHINGTON, DC. LATER, JACQUI ACCEPTED A POSITION WITH THE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS WITH THE ARMY AS A FOREIGN TRAINING OFFICER. IN THIS CAPACITY, SHE TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY IN THE FAR EAST; MEETING WITH THE MILITARY ATTACHES FROM THOSE COUNTRIES. AT THESE CONFERENCES, THE NUMBER OF MILITARY STUDENTS WAS DETERMINED WHO COULD, AND WOULD, BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING IN THE U.S. AND THOSE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS WHERE THEY WOULD RECEIVE SAID TRAINING. SHE WORKED WITH THE MILITARY SECTIONS OF THE EMBASSIES, IN WASHINGTON, COORDINATING THE STUDENTS' TRAINING AND CROSS TRAINING FOR THE FINAL SELECTED STUDENTS.

ON ONE OF THE TRIPS TO TAIWAN, ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR HER TO FLY TO THE ISLAND OF QUEMOY, OFF THE COAST OF CHINA. THIS WAS A VERY MEMORABLE TRIP. TWO TAIWANESE WHO HAD BEEN TRAINED IN THE U.S. PILOTED THE PLANE, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY THE U.S. THEY FLEW 50 FEET OVER THE OCEAN, WHICH WAS NECESSARY TO PRECLUDE BEING DETECTED BY THE CHI-COM RADAR. SHE WAS THE GUEST OF GENERAL CHIANG, WHO WAS A FORMER MILITARY ATTACHE IN WASHINGTON. MANY OF THE MILITARY STATIONED ON THE ISLAND RECEIVED THEIR TRAINING IN THE U.S. THE ISLAND WAS RAVAGED BY THE SHELLING OF THE CHI-COM ARMY AND THE SIRENS SCREAMED CONSTANTLY WARNING THAT AN ATTACK MIGHT BE IMMINENT. A DRIVE THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND REVEALED THAT MANY ELDERLY TAIWANESE HAD RETURNED TO THAT AREA FOR THEIR REMAINING YEARS. ONE OF THESE WAS A RHODES SCHOLAR WHO RECENTLY ARRIVED FROM ENGLAND, AND AT 93 YEARS WAS SPENDING HIS LAST DAYS IN HIS HOMELAND. SHE ALSO SPENT TIME IN THE MACHINE GUN NESTS, LOOKING THROUGH GLASSES TOWARDS THE CHI-COM COAST AND WATCHING THEIR MOVEMENTS AND THEY WERE OVERSEEING THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA MILITARY ON THE ISLAND. A SPECIAL TRIP ON THE AGENDA WAS TO VIEW THE VARIOUS DYNASTY PIECES THAT HAD BEEN "REMOVED" FROM CHINA AND WERE PLACED IN A MUSEUM ON QUEMOY.

SHE WAS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR TROUBLE-SHOOTING THE TRAINING SYLLABUS OFFERED TO FOREIGN STUDENTS IN THE U.S. WERE THE TRAINING PLANS SUITABLE FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS? FOR INSTANCE, COULD A 95 POUND THAI, LAO, VIETNAMESE OR SMALL STATURE STUDENT CARRY A 60 POUND ARMY PACK AND STILL SWIM? WERE THE LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES SOLVED TO A DEGREE THE STUDENT COULD COMPREHEND THE COURSE MEANING? WHAT WERE THE DIFFICULTIES IN FINALLY GRADUATING SOUTHEASTERN ASIATIC HELICOPTER PILOTS?

THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND ALL DEMANDED AN ACCURATE AND FREQUENTLY IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS. ONE PROBLEM, IN PARTICULAR, WERE THOSE ENCOUNTERED BY THE

INDONESIAN EMBASSY PERSONNEL AS A RESULT OF THE OVERTHROW OF PRESIDENT SUKARNO BY A MILITARY COUP. HER EMBASSY CONTACTS WERE ESSENTIALLY LEFT PENNILESS AS ALL FUNDS WERE FROZEN FROM THE HOME COUNTRY. AT 3:00 A.M. SHE WAS AT THE EMBASSY AND TOOK ON THE ROLE AS FINANCIAL ADVISOR, TO THE EXTENT THAT SHE USED HER OWN FUNDS TO ASSIST THROUGHOUT THE FINANCIAL CRISIS. A NORMAL WORK WEEK WAS EVENINGS AND USUALLY THE WEEKEND, AND NO OVERTIME!!!!

WHEN TIME PERMITTED, SHE WORKED WITH THE LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER, INCLUDING TAKING ENDANGERED ANIMALS FROM BARNS, GARAGES AND PLACES WHERE INSPECTIONS REVEALED UNSANITARY, ABUSIVE OR NEGLECTFUL CONDITIONS; LECTURED AND SHOWED SLIDES TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS SCHOOL CHILDREN, BOY AND GIRL SCOUTS, NURSING HOMES, AND OTHER YOUTH AND ADULT ORGANIZATIONS.

THE YEARS IN WASHINGTON WITNESSED A CHANGE AS CAPTAIN SCHMIDT ENTERED HER LIFE, WHEN THEY WERE INTRODUCED AT THE JAPANESE EMBASSY. SHE MARRIED CAPTAIN SCHMIDT AND IN 1968, SUBSEQUENT TO HIS RETURN FROM VIETNAM, DISCONTINUED HER PROFESSIONAL LIFE AND MOVED TO QUARTERS ON THE SUBMARINE BASE IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA.

HER VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES IN KEY WEST INCLUDED: SERVING AS DIRECTOR OF THE LOCAL RED CROSS CHAPTER; WORKING WITH THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE IN MEETING AND ASSISTING THE "BOAT PEOPLE" ARRIVALS WHO WERE IN NEED OF FOOD, CLOTHING, SHELTER AND MEDICAL TREATMENT, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE CHILDREN'S NEEDS; ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE NAVAL MUSEUM SHOWING AND EXPLAINED THE ITEMS BEING EXHIBITED. UNDER HER DIRECTION A SCHOOL WAS STARTED FOR UNDER PRIVILEGED CHILDREN, AGES 4 THROUGH 8.

THIS REQUIRED SCAVENGING AND CORRESPONDENCE TO VARIOUS COMPANIES FOR BOOKS, BLACKBOARDS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT. THE O.W.C. (OFFICERS WIVES CLUB) PROVIDED THE NECESSARY MANNING POWER.

A NEW TOUR OF DUTY AND THEY RETURNED TO THE WASHINGTON, D. C. AREA WHERE JACQUI VOLUNTEERED, AND WORKED, WITH THE 1972 OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IN PREPARING CONTESTANTS SCORES FOR THEIR DEPARTURE TO GERMANY. CAPTAIN SCHMIDT ESTABLISHED A NAVAL JUNIOR R.O.T.C. PROGRAM FOR THE NAVY AT NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL IN UTICA AND BECAME THE NAVAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTOR FOR THAT SCHOOL. AS A RESULT, THE COUPLE MOVED TO CAMDEN IN 1973. JACQUI SOON BECAME AWARE OF THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF THE AREA AND BECAME INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEERING IN CAMDEN AND ROME:

a. SHE SERVED AS VICE CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ROME CHAPTER, AMERICAN RED CROSS, FOR NINE YEARS.

b. CHAIRMAN, FRESH AIR COMMITTEE, AND HOSTED THREE FRESH AIR CHILDREN FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING CHRISTMAS AND EASTER.

c. HOSTED A FOREIGN STUDENT FROM BANGLADESH.

d. RED CROSS VOLUNTEER AT GRIFFISS AIR FORCE BASE.

e. FORMER TEACHER AT ANNSVILLE YOUTH CAMP.

f. SERVED AS CHAIRMAN, CAMDEN VOLUNTEER COORDINATING COMMITTEE.

g. CO-CHAIR OF THE ROTARY CLUB CHRISTMAS BASKET PROJECT.

SHE IS A MEMBER OF:

a. ROME FOOD COALITION AND FORMER TREASURER.

b. FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

c. SALVATION ARMY UNIT, CAMDEN.

d. AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, NEW YORK CENTRAL REGION, AND HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

e. VFW AND AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARIES.

f. GRIFFISS AFB OFFICERS WIVES CLUB (THEY REMAIN ACTIVE).

g. MEMBER, CLUSTER 13 MINISTRIES

h. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE CAMDEN ROTARY CLUB!!!

JACQUI HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS/GRANTS INCLUDING:

a. NEW YORK STATE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - 1992.

b. CAMDEN ROTARY CLUB ROSES FOR THE LIVING AWARD - 1992.

c. J. C. PENNEY AND VOLUNTEER CENTER OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY, VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR, AND GOLDEN RULE AWARD. (THIS AWARD, OVER AND ABOVE THE PERSONAL RECOGNITION, PROVIDED A $1,000.00 GRANT TO THE CAMDEN FOOD PANTRY.) - 1994.

d. ROTARY INTERNATIONAL 'S PAUL HARRIS AWARD - 1996.

WITH REFERENCE TO THE CAMDEN AREA FOOD PANTRY -- IT IS MORE THAN A CAN OF SOUP!!! NOT ONLY FOOD, BUT CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, RENTAL AND MOVING FEES, WHEN WARRANTED, VOUCHERS FOR GASOLINE, PROPANE, FUEL OIL AND FOOD ITEMS THAT ARE NOT STOCKED (THESE ARE PRIMARILY FRESH MEATS, VEGGIES AND DAIRY PRODUCTS). AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO SATISFY EVERY LEGITIMATE NEED. THANKSGIVING BASKETS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A YEARLY PROJECT. THIS YEAR EASTER BASKETS WERE PROVIDED. IN THE PAST SYLVAN BEACH AND CAMDEN HEAD START CHILDREN WERE THE ONLY RECIPIENTS.

EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO SHOP FOR, AND DELIVER FOOD TO THE ELDERLY, HOUSE-BOUND AND HANDICAPPED OR ANYONE WHOSE IS IN NEED OF THIS SERVICE. A BED AND BREAKFAST PROGRAM EXISTS FOR TRANSIENTS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE USUALLY REFERRED BY THE CAMDEN POLICE DEPT. THE TRANSIENT IS PROVIDED B AND B; CLEAN CLOTHING; A KIT CONTAINING BASIC ESSENTIALS FOR GROOMING; A SMALL AMOUNT OF CASH AND A KNAPSACK OF FOOD, PLUS A CAN OPENER.

A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP EXISTS WITH THE ONEIDA COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DEPT. OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND MADISON ONEIDA BOCES. CLIENTS ARE SCREENED TO DETERMINE THEIR NEEDS AND EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO NEGLECTED TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL TO ENROLL IN A BOCES CLASS TO STUDY FOR THEIR G.E.D. IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, AND WITH CONSIDERABLE PERSUASION, THREE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ENROLLED, AND ARE DETERMINED TO

COMPLETE COURSES FOR THEIR G.E.D.

CURRENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 281 CLIENTS ARE PROVIDED ESSENTIALS EACH MONTH. LAST YEAR, INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THIS FIGURE INCLUDES 1,822 CHILDREN. THE PANTRY IS MAINTAINED BY VOLUNTEER EFFORT. IT RECEIVES NO MONTHLY STIPEND AND RELIES ON THE GENEROSITY OF THE CITIZENS OF THE CAMDEN AREA, AND VARIOUS SMALL GRANTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR ITS EXISTENCE.

JACQUI DEVELOPED, EXPANDED, AND DIRECTED THE CAMDEN AREA FOOD PANTRY FOR 22 YEARS. HER PANTRY WAS THE MODEL FOR CENTRAL NEW YORK.

JACQUI IS SURVIVED BY HER BELOVED HUSBAND OF 46 YEARS, CAPT. CHARLES K. SCHMIDT, U.S. NAVY RETIRED; HER SISTER VERNA L. BOOR; HER NEPHEW DAVID TAUBERT; HER NIECES DIANE TESTA, AND DEBRA SLAGEL; AND HER CHERISHED GREAT NEPHEW ERIC M. TAUBERT.

There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held February 23, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Camden United Methodist Church, Main Street.

FARONE & SON FUNERAL HOME has arrangements.