Obituary of Charlotte E. Schmidt

Charlotte had an accidental fall; a day later, she had a heart attack. Charlotte was born April 15, 1936 in New York City, NY to Peter Edward Schmidt and Charlotte Schlageter Schmidt. She attended Queens Public Schools and graduated from Queens College. Before becoming a marketing research executive for a number of pharmaceutical companies, she had her own cookie company in New Jersey. Ultimately, Charlotte retired from Pfizer Drug Company. Not willing to sit out her retirement, she became President of her own marketing research consulting group. Charlotte traveled extensively. Her first major trip was in 1961 to Hawaii. She allowed herself four weeks to explore the newest State in the Union. Charlotte also traveled many parts of the United States, Europe and Canada. After living in New York and New Jersey for almost fifty five years; Charlotte moved to Santa Barbara in 1997. Santa Barbara became her true home. She loved walking the beach, so close to her home all the beauty of the flowers and plants…and no snow! Charlotte volunteered at the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens for over ten years. She also volunteered at the Humane Society of Santa Barbara and the Alzheimer’s Associations. She is survived by her cousin Janet Barteld, & husband James & their children Nicholas and Audra of Florida; her dearest friends of forty five years: Margaret Fredecky of New York City and Diana Sable of St Michael, MD, Ilona Hunter of Solvang, CA, Pam Hall of Penn Valley CA, Cathleen McDermitt, Victor & Rosa Roma, Lynn Benson-Work and Wayne Sutton, her “The Book Club” friend,Janet Kelley-Sanchez and her beloved dog, Nicky; of Santa Barbara. We shall greatly miss our dear friend. She leaves a legacy of love, laughter, happiness and service to her community. Charlotte shall remain in our hearts as she was an exceptional lady in every sense of the word. A memorial service will be held in New York at St. Johns Cemetery at a later date by her New York friends. She will be interred with her mother and her father. “Epitaph For A Darling Lady” by Dorothy Parker, Verse 3 “Leave for her, a red young rose Go your way, and save your pity. She is happy, for she knows That her dust is very pretty.” If anyone has questions regarding Charlotte’s life or her services, please call Lynn at 805-967-9572