Robert Joseph Schmidl

Robert “Bob” Joseph Schmidl was born on October 6, 1948 in Chicago, IL to Margaret and Leonard Schmidl.  He was a protective big brother to his sister Maxine, who was born four years later.  Bob married Kathleen “Kathy” Casey on October 23, 1982 and had two daughters, Christina and Laura. 

As a young boy, his parents moved the family from Chicago to southern California. He grew up in a friendly neighborhood where he was able to walk to school.  He was a successful high school student at Norwalk High, where he was class Vice President and captain of the varsity tennis team.  Bob graduated from UCLA with an engineering degree in 1971.  While at UCLA he joined the Navy ROTC and contemplated a life in the Navy after graduation but had his commission transferred to the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps where he did hydrographic surveying in Alaska and Hawaii and water quality research in Miami and Brooklyn.  During his time with NOAA, he became interested in real estate and bought his first income property with the help of his parents.  Upon completion of his service commitment, he went to work as an engineer at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard where he ran the sonar testing facility for ships.

After his eldest daughter Christina was born, the Navy eliminated his position at the shipyard and reassigned him to a job he did not care for.  He decided to instead go into business for himself as a real estate property manager.  Together, he and Kathy bought properties, which he managed himself allowing him the flexibility to spend time with his family, enjoy his hobbies, and to travel. 

He enjoyed reading, writing, playing music on the guitar, banjo, and bass (really any instrument), skiing in Mammoth, grilling, hiking in the mountains, and telling silly dad jokes.

He is survived by his wife Kathy, daughters Christina and Laura and their husbands Michael and Justin, grandchildren Henry and Eleanor, and sister Maxine and her husband Alan.  Bob was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter Madelyn Rose.

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