Gregory Schmitt

Gregory Schmitt was 78 years old, and the patriarch of his family. A resident of Levittown for 47 years, Gregory was pre-deceased by his loving and devoted wife of 33 years, Geraldine Schmitt. Beloved father of Christopher, James (Jennifer) and Kathleen. Cherished grandfather of Katelyn and William. He is survived by sister Lauren (Kenneth) and brothers Walter (MaryAnne) and Robert (Gloria), and pre-deceased by brother Leslie and sister Georgette, survived by husband Paul.

Gregory was born in Brooklyn, NY to RoseAnn and Walter Schmitt. After graduating from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1963, he worked at the Federal Treasury until he became a New York City Police Officer in 1966. While in the Police Department he joined the Naval Reserve and was activated in 1967 where he served on the USS Franklin D Roosevelt aircraft carrier and developed a lifelong friendship with John Mangieri. During his service, he received an accidental package from Geraldine L. Sheridan whom he decided to write back and from there developed a pen pal, which later turned into marriage on December 7, 1969. His wit and sense of humor won her over. From there, they had three wonderful children.

After retiring from the NYPD in 1982, Gregory was in the title service industry for the next 15 years and then worked security for the Northwell Health System for 10 years.

After his wife Geraldine’s passing in February 2002, Gregory became an even more active member of Holy Family Parish in Hicksville, involved in multiple church groups. He attended mass daily, became a Eucharistic Minister and attended the Rosary prayer group once a week at the church. To say he was a devout Catholic is an understatement. In 1994, he joined the Knights of Columbus and became a Fourth Degree Knight in 2012.

The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Gregory. He enjoyed watching old movies at home and going to the movies with his family. Another pleasure of his was dining out with friends and family. He also frequently visited his childhood parish, St John the Baptist in Brooklyn NY. In 1976, he and his family started taking weekends away in West Point to attend Army football games and became friendly with many of the Cadets over the years, even hosting them for weekends in their Levittown home. Later in life, his first grandchild was born in 2015 with his second born in 2016. They quickly became the light of his life.

Gregory had a wonderful personality and smile that was loved by everyone and will be truly missed by all who knew him.

Visitation services for Gregory will be held Thursday, November 16, 2023 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Homes, 125 Old Country Rd, Hicksville, New York 11801. A Funeral Mass will occur Friday, November 17, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Holy Family RC Church, 17 Fordham Ave, Hicksville, New York 11801. An Interment will occur Friday, November 17, 2023 at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Garden Mausoleums, 2030 Wellwood Ave, Farmingdale, New York 11739, immediately following the Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation in Gregory Schmitt’s name to either Holy Family Parish in Hicksville (https://holyfamilyparishny.org/giving/support-holy-family) or St. John the Baptist in Brooklyn (https://stjohnsbrooklyn.org/make-a-donation).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.VernonCWagnerFuneralHome.com for the Schmitt family.