1925 – 2012
Ralph Louis Schmidt was born May 22, 1925 in Cudworth, Saskatchewan. He is survived by his loving wife, Jane; 4 sons, Glenn, Craig (Suzanne), Paul, Allan (Marie); 4 grandsons, Cameron, Kyle, Nicholas, Shaun (Deanna) and great grandson, Isaac; predeceased sister, Marian; also sisters, Lucille, Phylis, Rosemarie; Jane’s sisters Elizabeth (Horst) and Christine (Bert); and many nieces and nephews. Thanks to the kind care of the hospital staff at Royal Jubilee Hospital. He served in the R.C.A.F. in later part of the Second World War, trained as an air gunner. He was employed as a professional forester with the Ministry of Forests and retired in 1982 as Director of the Research Branch. During his retirement years he followed his passion as a writer.
Memorial service will be held in McCall Brothers, Floral Chapel, Johnson and Vancouver Streets on Saturday, January 14th at 2:30 pm. Reception to follow at McCall’s Family Centre. Condolences may be offered below.
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Mary Ostermann Hake
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Paul Nystedt Greetings Jane and family, I’ve been out of country during the month of January, so just now heard. My thoughts and condolences during this difficult time. As others have said, Ralph was the Director of Research Branch when I was hired, though it would cause me some concern when he would come over, stand next to my desk, and say “I still don’t know why we hired you”. I’m glad he let me stick around and participate in what I thought was a golden age of the Research Branch. Later I did some illustrations for a book he published (Pennies from Heaven), was the willing recipient of salmon which one of your sons would drop off, and enjoyed seeing Ralph at the ball games and tournaments of the league Paul and I played in. He is a class act, and I will miss him.
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John Parminter I knew Ralph since 1980, when I was hired by the Protection Branch of the BCFS. I worked a lot with Research Branch and appreciated the support I received from Ralph and his staff. Ralph and I worked on several forest history projects through the Forest History Association of BC, including the Research Branch history. He always had a smile for you and he maintained his interest in people and forest research. I will miss Ralph’s joie de vivre.
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John Muir I enjoyed working occasionally with Ralph in 1959 and 1960 when I was a summer student with Research Branch. He was always interesting, helpful and courteous. His friendliness and courtesy continued later in 1981-82 when I worked in Protection Branch, and he was one of the staff that made working in the Forest Service so enjoyable. I’ll miss seeing him at the annual reunions at the Legion.
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Alastair Urquhart I curled with Ralph for several years at VCC and thoroughly enjoyed his company. He was a lovely man and I am saddened by his death. I know that your family will be greatly supportive of each other at this difficult time and I send my deepest sympathy.
Earlier today I brought out my copy, personally signed, of Ralph’s book: “Pennies from Heaven” and will remember him fondly as I re-read his stories.
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Mik Kovats Ralph was more than a colleague and a director. His cheerful attitude brightened up many meetings, field trips and get-togethers that made everybody feel at ease and part of the group.
On one occasion, having dinner and a glass of wine together he decided to learn Hungarian, in particular, one word: “cheers” which does not exist in the Hungarian dictionary but a good substitute “to your health” or “egészségedre” does. After several tries – and glasses of wine – he managed to pronounce this rather unpronounceable word and remembered it whenever we had an occasion to sip a glass of wine together…
Farewell Ralph! Your personality and friendship in, and outside of work will be cherished for the rest of my life.
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Dick Marshall Jane: I have many fond memories of working for Ralph in the Elk River Valley and Crest Mountain and with the Research Division.
He was a Boss, Mentor and Friend and very helpful to me over the years. I have good memories of boarding with you while in University.Our condolences on his passing.
Regards, Dick and(Ruth) Marshall
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David Robertson Jane and family: We are deeply sorry for your loss.
Ralph was a great neighbour. I always enjoyed our ‘over the hedge’ conversations. We’ll miss the spinach and his humour.
David, Sharon, Matt and Emma Robertson
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Brian Nyberg I too want to express my sincere condolences to the family at Ralph’s passing. He was such a warm, funny man as well as a dedicated professional and respected leader in the Forest Service. He was always admired and appreciated by his staff in Research Branch, in large part because when we talked to him we always felt he cared deeply about both our work and ourselves as individuals. I was especially grateful for his strong support during the 1970’s of the then-new (and not always popular) work in the Forest Service on wildlife, fish, soils, ecology, and other non-timber topics. He continued to touch people’s lives in his retirement, such as when he interviewed old-timers like my father to gather stories about the Depression years on the prairies. He will be greatly missed by many people.
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Henry Benskin Ralph made a significant contribution to forestry in B.C. as a researcher and research leader with the B.C. Forest Service (BCFS), Research Division. I am personally indebted to him for starting my 33 year BCFS career. It was wonderful to chat to Ralph and Jane at the BCFS retirees get-together shortly before Christmas. We will all miss Ralph’s good humour, charm and intellect. Sincere condolences to Jane and family.
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Patricia Chester Dear Jane and family:
I am very sorry for your loss.
Since I am unable to attend the service for Ralph, I would like to say that it was a joy to work with him all those years in the Research Branch. He was a kind and thoughtful manSincerely, Pat Chester.
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Glen and Pat Atkinson Dear Jane
We cherish our friendship of over 40 years – we have many happy memories ; days at Qualicum, singing, parties for all the birthday occasions, bridge, sharing gardening know-how. We had a lot of common interests which led to many philosophical discussions. We’ll miss Ralph’s ready wit, his joyful approach to life and his love of people. He leaves a big hole in the lives of his wide circle of friends.Love Glen and Pat
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URSULA LOWE Dear Jane,
Thinking of you and your family and sharing the wonder of a beautiful life and the sorrow of its loss.
IN DEEPEST SYMPATHY.Ursula
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John vanCuylenborg Jane and family,
I am very sorry to learn of Ralph’s passing. I have lots of fond memories of Ralph. As a child I remember Ralph smiling and welcoming me as the kid from next door – when I am sure another young boy in his house was more than he needed. He was a kind family man, who will be sadly missed.
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Ralph White Jane and Family,
I have several memories of Ralph. One was his early work on Abies species in coastal, BC. It was a good reference source.
Later, after his retirement, I was invited one day to climb cherry trees at the home of one of his sons. Ralph insisted that I get every single cheery on a limb before moving onto the ‘richer pastures’ of more heavily laden branches. It made me think that it was probably the way he did most things. He was a credit to the Forest Service and his writings will live on. .
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Cheng C. Ying Ralph Schmidt was the Director of Research Branch, when I was hired to carry on the provenance research in 1979. Ralph established the Coaslal Douglas-fir provenance trial, which was the very first long-tern, large-scale field testing establised in systematic way in British Columbia. He managed to establish a 10-ha test at Kemano near the species northern range, where then boat was the only access. These tests benefit us even today, providing a network of ‘natural observatories’ to study the effect of global warming on tree growth.
Ralph is humorous, unpretenously easy to access and talk to him. I miss him as a friend, a colleague, and a superior.
Cheng C. Ying
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george stanley I wish to express my sincerest condolences. george stanley
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morris turner Dear Jane & Family
We wish to convey our condolences at this time of your loss. We are remembering our good fortune in having experienced the Saskatchewan Schmidt’s on the ice and off! Ralph’s curling and “book” stories were something to enjoy and behold.
Morris Turner
So sorry we had lost touch and didn’t know of this cousin’s passing. He visited my parents numerous times. My mom Isabell enjoyed that. My daughter just found this while researching family history. Would like to get in touch with cousins in the extended family.