Dr. Linda Catherine Schmidt

Dr. Linda C. Schmidt, age 62, passed away on Friday, March 12, 2021, in Silver Spring, MD. Dr. Schmidt was a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland. She was also an amazing aunt, sister, daughter, niece, cousin, and friend.

Linda was born on November 27, 1958, in Blue Island, Illinois. She is preceded in death by her husband, Michael. Linda is survived by her parents, Patricia Geier and Joseph (Joyce Downing) Geier, siblings Julie (Bob) Bulver, Diane (Tom) Buckhouse, Sue (Karl) Manrodt, Pam (Jim) Long and Dan (Donna) Geier; brother-in-law Andrew (Stacie) Schmidt; nieces and nephews Justin, Todd and Nolan Bulver, Jenny (Chris) Brady, Abby (Adam) Bixler, Katie (Corey) Funk, Sarah and Ben Manrodt, Jared Long, Alex and Will Geier; great nephew Callan Brady, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Family by fate: Maureen (Casey) Cogan, Devon and Keara Cogan.

Linda was an outstanding academic. She earned her BS (1989) and MS (1991) degrees in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University and a PhD (1995) in Mechanical Engineering from the Carnegie Mellon University. She joined the faculty of the University of Maryland in 1995. Dr. Schmidt published over 80 refereed publications and earned various awards including a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Award (1998) for research and the American Society of Engineering Education's prestigious Fred Merryfield Design Award (2008). She was the co-author with the late Dr. George Dieter of the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the text titled, Engineering Design, published by McGraw Hill. She founded the University of Maryland’s Designer Assistance Tool Laboratory and was a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers as well as a member of the Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Engineering Education. Linda was dedicated to her students, especially women pursuing careers in engineering.

Linda was also completely devoted to her family. Long distances and busy schedules never stopped Aunt Linda from catching up on the classes, employment, trips, activities, and the romantic endeavors of her beloved nieces and nephews. Her quirky generosity is legendary.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

A private service will be held for Linda at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines, Iowa, at 1:30 pm on March 25, 2021. The service will, however, be livestreamed. Linda will be interred at the Resthaven Cemetery. To leave condolences and view the livestream, please visit www.mclarensresthavenchapel.com.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of these University of Maryland funds that Linda wholeheartedly supported:

1) Mechanical Engineering Design Suite Fund,

https://giving.umd.edu/giving/fund.php?name=mechanical-engineering-design-suite-fund

or

2) George Dieter Endowed Distinguished Lecture Series,

https://giving.umd.edu/giving/fund.php?name=george-dieter-endowed-distinguished-lecture-series-in-mechanics-and-materials

If you prefer to send flowers, please send them to a nursing home or hospital in your area.