Welcome to the memorial page for
Herbert Schmidt
November 30, 1948 ~ December 1, 2017 (age 69) 69 Years Old Light a Candle
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A candle was lit by Silvana Armistead
on June 7, 2020 11:46 AM
Message from Werner Kintopf
February 18, 2020 4:06 PM
Seit über 3 Jahre habe ich nichts mehr von dir gehört und mich immer gefragt, warum das so ist. Jetzt finde ich hier zufällig deine Todesanzeige. Das tut mir sehr leid. Herbert, es war eine schöne Zeit mit dir 1971 in Australien. Wir haben zu fünft in Sydney / Australien in einer Wohngemeinschaft gewohnt. Es ewar eine tolle Zeit. Du wolltes mich in Berlin besuchen. Schade, das dies jetzt nicht mehr klappt. Nun bin ich der letzte Lebende aus der Australien Gruppe. Habasch, Klaus, Fred und Herbert - Ruhet in Frieden !
Message from Dan Arritt
May 14, 2018 8:13 PM
Today, I was riding thru the streets of Saigon heading to a furniture factory when my old friend Herb Schmidt came to mind. A quick google search led me to this memorial page. I was shocked to read the news of Herb’s passing.
I am grieving the loss of “Professor Schmidt” who introduced me to German kindness, cuisine, humor, hospitality and everything Fulterer. I don’t remember exactly when we met but it must have been in the late 80’s. We lost contact early 2000’s when I resigned from Thomasville Furniture and started spending more time in Asia. So many wonderful years spent with “Professor Herb” and Herbert Mueller plowing thru engineering details and samples trying to incorporate euro hardware into Thomasville’s Appomattox product line.
I’ll never forget flying with Herb to Austria to work on a custom euro drawer guide. We landed in Switzerland and he went to go get the rental car while I waited with the bags. 30 minutes later Herb pulled up in a BMW with all smiles. He said he rented a cheap car but got upgraded to the BMW. Once Herb hit the Autobahn, he was in his element explaining the rules of the road and the art of high speed driving. I, on the other hand, held on for dear life for the next 3 weeks riding to the Austrian factory and thru Germany.
I remember spending a weekend in his family home, having meals together and going to my first German beer festival up on a hill top covered in fog but filled with food, beer, music and excitement. Herb introduced this Virginia country boy to German beer, white asparagus, “real” bread/cheese, and chocolate fondue.
During another visit to the factory, he drove me to a ski resort in Lichtenstein where we rode a cable car high on top of a snow capped mountain. We walked thru a trail of snow around the other side of the peak to a wonderful mountain top lodge. We sat there for hours talking, eating, sipping a beer and looking out over an incredible mountain view. I’ll never forget that Sunday afternoon with Herb.
I’ll remember Herb as a gracious host, a hard-working businessman and fun loving but, most importantly, as a dear friend - someone I could trust and who gave me my first glimpse of the world from the Alps.
Words cannot express the sorrow that I feel for the passing of Herb.
To his dear family, please accept my condolences. You are in my prayers.
Dan Arritt
I am grieving the loss of “Professor Schmidt” who introduced me to German kindness, cuisine, humor, hospitality and everything Fulterer. I don’t remember exactly when we met but it must have been in the late 80’s. We lost contact early 2000’s when I resigned from Thomasville Furniture and started spending more time in Asia. So many wonderful years spent with “Professor Herb” and Herbert Mueller plowing thru engineering details and samples trying to incorporate euro hardware into Thomasville’s Appomattox product line.
I’ll never forget flying with Herb to Austria to work on a custom euro drawer guide. We landed in Switzerland and he went to go get the rental car while I waited with the bags. 30 minutes later Herb pulled up in a BMW with all smiles. He said he rented a cheap car but got upgraded to the BMW. Once Herb hit the Autobahn, he was in his element explaining the rules of the road and the art of high speed driving. I, on the other hand, held on for dear life for the next 3 weeks riding to the Austrian factory and thru Germany.
I remember spending a weekend in his family home, having meals together and going to my first German beer festival up on a hill top covered in fog but filled with food, beer, music and excitement. Herb introduced this Virginia country boy to German beer, white asparagus, “real” bread/cheese, and chocolate fondue.
During another visit to the factory, he drove me to a ski resort in Lichtenstein where we rode a cable car high on top of a snow capped mountain. We walked thru a trail of snow around the other side of the peak to a wonderful mountain top lodge. We sat there for hours talking, eating, sipping a beer and looking out over an incredible mountain view. I’ll never forget that Sunday afternoon with Herb.
I’ll remember Herb as a gracious host, a hard-working businessman and fun loving but, most importantly, as a dear friend - someone I could trust and who gave me my first glimpse of the world from the Alps.
Words cannot express the sorrow that I feel for the passing of Herb.
To his dear family, please accept my condolences. You are in my prayers.
Dan Arritt
Message from John Montgomery
December 17, 2017 7:16 PM
I first met Herb in the fall of 1986 when I started work with Hafele. Little did I know at the time that I would be working with Herb on and off for the next 30 years. I share many memories of Herb with all the trade shows, golf outings, fishing trips, dinners, trips cris crossing the country, home and abroad, and all the stories and laughs we shared together. I remember one golfing excursion in particular when we had 2 foursomes. Herb and I were in the first foursome and Kurt Garbe and Ernst Lentz were in the second. I can only speculate who else was playing but I'm sure it wasa few of the usual suspects, Phil Martin, Charlie Kraft, Wolfgand, Barry Vermillion. Herb and I were finishing putting on a par 5 hole when a ball came from behind us and into the sand trap. It ruffled Herb's feathers a bit as you never crowd the foursome in front of you. Anyway, Herb picked the ball up out of the sand trap and realized it was Kurt Garbe's ball. Herb seemed to always know who played which brand of balls. Well Herb just simply dropped the ball in the cup and we moved on to the next hole(the foursome behind us did not see it as they were hitting blind to the green). You can only imagine the smile and laugh when we heard Kurt's shrieks and screams coming from behind us. Well Kurt, I hate to tell you that the eagle you recorded that day would probably have been a triple bogey as it was a hard lie coming out of the sand trap!
We discovered in short order that we shared two common threads. First we were both products of WWII veterans. Albeit they fought on different teams, we never lost sight of the commitments both had made and we each had great respect for our fathers.Second, our wives were both pregnant at the same time. This was the most important for the both of us, as we had many discussions of the excitement we shared as we realized we were on our way of having our first child and becoming fathers. It was especially important for Herb as he was an only son and important for him to pass on his fathers heritage and legacy thru himself.
Herb received many accolades in his lifetime but make no mistake that his greatest accomplishment was the birth of his son. He was so proud!
So rest in peace my non-conformist friend and realize your heritage and legacy will live on thru your "New Kid on the Block" - Will.
We discovered in short order that we shared two common threads. First we were both products of WWII veterans. Albeit they fought on different teams, we never lost sight of the commitments both had made and we each had great respect for our fathers.Second, our wives were both pregnant at the same time. This was the most important for the both of us, as we had many discussions of the excitement we shared as we realized we were on our way of having our first child and becoming fathers. It was especially important for Herb as he was an only son and important for him to pass on his fathers heritage and legacy thru himself.
Herb received many accolades in his lifetime but make no mistake that his greatest accomplishment was the birth of his son. He was so proud!
So rest in peace my non-conformist friend and realize your heritage and legacy will live on thru your "New Kid on the Block" - Will.
A candle was lit by Philip Martin
on December 14, 2017 11:30 AM
Message from Joe Ferretti
December 8, 2017 1:03 PM
I am very sad to hear of Herb's passing. Herb was a big influence on me in my first years at Hafele. He was always willing to help, no matter what, and he taught me so much about so many things... about hardware, about our industry, about Hafele, about Germany, and about myself. Herb definitely challenged me regularly as I was learning the ropes of our industry, which really helped me to grow. But he always did so in a very caring, big brother kind of way, and almost always finishing with a big smile and a laugh--that was Herb. He always worked hard but he also knew how to laugh and take joy out of every moment possible along the way, and he always infected me with that happiness & humor! I also remember a few of our "team" dinners/nights out in those early days with Herb, my brother, Wolfgang, Ernst, & Kurt--those were always memorable and educational adventures that still make me smile to this day! I have so many good memories, and so many wonderful experiences with Herb that will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Herb...you were one in a million, and will be missed
A candle was lit by Brian Williams
on December 8, 2017 9:17 AM
Message from Pete Hoover
December 7, 2017 10:00 AM
If there was ever a harder working person who deserved to enjoy his retirement it was Herb Schmidt.
We are so sorry it did not last. At the risk of repeating what everyone else has said, it’s all true. First of all work, Hafele & Fulterer he LOVED it. Travelling, customers, and closing the deal. Trade shows and sales meetings. Then came the fun, food, golf, and laughter. Great memories.
Herb was an engineer. He engineered solutions. For his industry, his customers, his employees and his friends. I learned much from you and will be forever grateful for your mentorship and our friendship.
Herbie, I am sure that as you entered the tee box at the gates of heaven, you had “happy feet” like never before. Hit ‘em straight my friend because remember what “GOLF” stands for – God Only Loves Fairways.
Rest in peace my brother. We love you and will miss you.
Pete & Tracey & John Hoover
Milwaukee, WI
We are so sorry it did not last. At the risk of repeating what everyone else has said, it’s all true. First of all work, Hafele & Fulterer he LOVED it. Travelling, customers, and closing the deal. Trade shows and sales meetings. Then came the fun, food, golf, and laughter. Great memories.
Herb was an engineer. He engineered solutions. For his industry, his customers, his employees and his friends. I learned much from you and will be forever grateful for your mentorship and our friendship.
Herbie, I am sure that as you entered the tee box at the gates of heaven, you had “happy feet” like never before. Hit ‘em straight my friend because remember what “GOLF” stands for – God Only Loves Fairways.
Rest in peace my brother. We love you and will miss you.
Pete & Tracey & John Hoover
Milwaukee, WI
A candle was lit by Dietmar Loescher
on December 6, 2017 2:43 PM
Message from Lew Ferretti
December 6, 2017 11:11 AM
I first met Herb in 1979 when I started at Hafele. I'll never forget the many good times we had. I'm shocked Herb is gone. He is one of the pioneers in the industry. I learned so much from him, as many others have. We worked together through numerous challenges and many good times. I learned a lot about Germany from him too. I've developed a respect and enjoyment of German culture since those early days. I'll never forget the times with Herb and Wolfgang and Ernst. It was a special time. The last time I saw Herb he was not doing well. We talked a long time about many things that night. I never expected it would be the last time. I'm very sorry about his passing. However I'm happy I knew him and for the good times we had.
Message from Herbert Mueller
December 6, 2017 8:01 AM
Herb was an icon in the hardware Industry.
In his early years he traveled the US with a Hafele bus, introducing European made woodworking hardware often for the first time to cabinet and furniture makers. This and his love for the woodworking industry made him the true Pionier in the Hardware business.
He was instrumental in getting Fulterer USA started. He help us to become the reliable drawer-slides brand we are today. His understanding of the market and the many products he developed himself truly has given us the foundation of what Fulterer USA is today.
We miss you and will always remember you.
Herbert Mueller
Fulterer USA
In his early years he traveled the US with a Hafele bus, introducing European made woodworking hardware often for the first time to cabinet and furniture makers. This and his love for the woodworking industry made him the true Pionier in the Hardware business.
He was instrumental in getting Fulterer USA started. He help us to become the reliable drawer-slides brand we are today. His understanding of the market and the many products he developed himself truly has given us the foundation of what Fulterer USA is today.
We miss you and will always remember you.
Herbert Mueller
Fulterer USA
Message from Herbert Müller
December 6, 2017 7:51 AM
Herb was my mentor in the Hardware business. He was to me the older brother i never had in life.
Herb we miss you.
Herb we miss you.
Message from Scott Markwood
December 5, 2017 3:25 PM
So sorry to hear of Herb’s passing and the loss to all who knew and loved him. I started at Häfele America Co. in 1999 so my connection with Herb was via his friends and former coworkers; primarily Karl-Heinz Kraft. Over the years I had the pleasure of hanging out with these gentlemen while canoeing, camping and sports shooting, but more times than not I ran into Herb at a trade show or in a Mexican restaurant, which was another passion we shared. I was always met with a smile, a strong handshake and an insult about the company I’d been keeping, followed by a smirk which slowly evolved into a strong laugh. He left a legacy in the woodworking industry that will be long remembered, even by those who never had the pleasure of feeling that firm grip.
Message from Charlie
December 5, 2017 2:05 PM
It was Herb who picked me up at the airport, when I arrived from Germany in Sept 84.
But it did not stop there. He helped me to get settled. He arranged for furniture, helped me to get a car and he gave me my American name "Charlie".
Once settled he spent many weekends with me, introducing me to North Carolina, from the Outer Banks to the mountains.
Herb, I owe you big time.
Sometimes I feel the urge to write a book, about you....Wolfgang, Kurt and Ernst. There are so many good and funny stories. We had sooo much fun.
Thank you Herb, for everything.
Charlie
But it did not stop there. He helped me to get settled. He arranged for furniture, helped me to get a car and he gave me my American name "Charlie".
Once settled he spent many weekends with me, introducing me to North Carolina, from the Outer Banks to the mountains.
Herb, I owe you big time.
Sometimes I feel the urge to write a book, about you....Wolfgang, Kurt and Ernst. There are so many good and funny stories. We had sooo much fun.
Thank you Herb, for everything.
Charlie
Message from Stefan Corona
December 5, 2017 12:44 AM
Hello my friend and role model,
When I first traveled to customers in the United States 20 years ago, you immediately took me by the hand and provided me with important and helpful insights into the "new world", both commercially and privately.
From then on, we have been traveling regularly. You have always taken the time to make the stay pleasant, varied and interesting - I have always been looking forward to a trip to you and with you!
These were instructive, intense, entertaining and also funny.
Thanks!
We will continue to follow the traces left by you - you have always been a great role model for me!
Rest in peace.
Stefan Corona - Director of Engineering, Austria
When I first traveled to customers in the United States 20 years ago, you immediately took me by the hand and provided me with important and helpful insights into the "new world", both commercially and privately.
From then on, we have been traveling regularly. You have always taken the time to make the stay pleasant, varied and interesting - I have always been looking forward to a trip to you and with you!
These were instructive, intense, entertaining and also funny.
Thanks!
We will continue to follow the traces left by you - you have always been a great role model for me!
Rest in peace.
Stefan Corona - Director of Engineering, Austria
Message from Dana McLean
December 4, 2017 7:57 PM
I first met Herb in 1984 at Hafele America. He is very well respected for his expertise in the furniture hardware industry and will be missed. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Dana McLean
Hafele America
Dana McLean
Hafele America
Message from Christian Bollrath
December 4, 2017 1:17 PM
I'm in total shock about Herb's passing. I just received the message today. Herb was a dear friend and helped me a lot getting settled here in the USA. I remember trips to Florida over 25 years ago numerous trade shows where we always had a lot of fun. I also remember Herb's love for music and concerts we went to together. Especially an Earth Wind and Fire concert here in Atlanta stood out. I can't find the right words other than you will be dearly missed my friend.
Message from Claudia Lenz Blair
December 3, 2017 7:54 PM
I hope you are having a beer with my dad and Wolfgang.
I remember the good old days, when we all first just moved to America to High Point in the late 1970's. I remember us going camping and hiking.
I remember one particular Outer Banks trip where I was taking part of riding on the back of your motorcycle. We all thought that was cool back then. You were a great friend to all of us. I remember Jeb and me wrapping your house on Oakview Drive on your wedding night. I remember you handing over Will to me on my Wedding day, saying that soon, I would have a child. I remember you looking after our dog Terry one summer... You and my dad and Wolfgang going on the big Haefele Bus. Those were the good old days.
I remember the good old days, when we all first just moved to America to High Point in the late 1970's. I remember us going camping and hiking.
I remember one particular Outer Banks trip where I was taking part of riding on the back of your motorcycle. We all thought that was cool back then. You were a great friend to all of us. I remember Jeb and me wrapping your house on Oakview Drive on your wedding night. I remember you handing over Will to me on my Wedding day, saying that soon, I would have a child. I remember you looking after our dog Terry one summer... You and my dad and Wolfgang going on the big Haefele Bus. Those were the good old days.
A candle was lit by Claudia Lenz Blair
on December 3, 2017 3:38 PM
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