Klaus Franz Schmidt

Klaus Franz Schmidt died on 12 May 2025, just shy of his 97th birthday, in his home in Sleepy Hollow, New York, where he had lived for over 61 years. Mr. Schmidt was born on 25 May 1928 to Elfriede Klamroth and Franz Schmidt in Dessau, Germany. In 1943, at the age of 15, he and his classmates were drafted into the German military as Flakhelfer. In April 1945, after escaping his unit, he was captured by the US Army. He always said that it was the kind, respectful treatment he got in the US POW Camp Halberstadt that made him want to emigrate to the US. In November 1951, his dream came true when he crossed the Atlantic on the RMS Queen Elizabeth. He worked as a typesetter and printer in Detroit while also attending Wayne University. In June 1954, he married Gisela Garbrecht, a recent German immigrant. In 1956, with a BA in Business Administration, he moved to New York, with his wife and daughter, Dagmar. Here he began an illustrious career in advertising, typography, and print production ending at Young & Rubicam. He proudly became a US citizen in April 1957. His daughter, Ena, was born in 1959. Mr. Schmidt was internationally known for his work in typography as co-founder of the International Center for Typographic Arts, President of the Type Directors Club, Adjunct Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, distinguished international lecturer, especially on the legibility of type, and as columnist for Print Magazine and other technical publications for over 30 years. Retiring in 1991, Mr. Schmidt devoted himself to learning as much about the history and natural wonders of his adopted country as possible through reading, study, and travel. He was an officer of the Historical Society of the Tarrytowns for many years. He traveled to all 50 US states, climbed mountains in the Catskills and Adirondacks, and scaled Mt. Washington (NH). He especially enjoyed steam locomotives and steamboats on which he took many dozens of trips. He was especially fond of the steamboats Alexander Hamilton, Delta Queen, and American Queen. Mr. Schmidt was pre-deceased by his parents in 1945, and his wife, Gisela in 2000. He is survived by his daughters, Dr. Dagmar Schmidt Etkin (Susan Yousem) of Cortlandt Manor, NY, and Ena Reynen (Peter Reynen) of Vashon, WA, four grandchildren, Derek Etkin (Becca Bailey) of Cambridge, MA, Tommy Etkin (Cat Callahan) of Los Angeles, Rebecca Solomon and David Solomon (Irene Solomon) of Seattle, and three great-grandchildren, Bianca and Juniper Etkin of Cambridge, and Elijah Solomon of Seattle. He is also leaves his long-time companion, his cousin Gisela Enck of Unterföhring, Germany, many other cousins in Germany, the Fuller Family, his wonderful neighbors, and his devoted caregiver, Paul Boateng. A memorial service will be held at the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow, July 3rd, 2025, from 11am-12:30pm. A livestream link will also be available of the service with an archive posted to watch subsequently on the obituary page. Livestream link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a25067968194667

Klaus Franz Schmidt

May 25, 1928 - May 12, 2025