Zachary Jerome Schmidt

Zachary Jerome Schmidt, 33, was born in Austin, Texas, on September 27, 1983. Tragically, in the early morning hours on Saturday, October 15, 2016, Zac perished in a single car collision in south Austin, Texas.

Zachary, a photographer and a model, attended Bowie High School and Austin Community College. Zachary is survived by his mother, Sarah Dunlap, his father, Dr. Jerome Schmidt, and his brothers, Jed and Wesley Schmidt. He also leaves behind three uncles and aunts, two nephews, and three cousins.

Zach's heart knew no bounds, and he loved his family and friends fiercely. He was a passionate human who did all things with great love, energy, and purpose. He poured himself into a career in the arts: photography, modeling, sketching, drawing, and custom painting cars. An active person, Zach was also devoted to studying nutrition, fitness training, and Jiu-Jitsu.

As a young child, Zach's enthusiasm for life and for the arts shined. At an early age, he drew beautiful pictures while in later years also expressed himself in writing with great skill. He was an energetic boy, who was mathematically and mechanically inclined. He would take everything apart to see how it worked, and as a young adult, he used those natural talents working as a land surveyor in the Austin area.

Zach's energy, talent, and curiosity lead him to modeling, and it was through that lens that he found his life's true passion: photography. Only a few days before his death, Zachary developed a way to integrate photography methods with new technology. He told his father that this would be a "game changer". His budding career came to a halt too soon; Zach was planning to pursue his career wholeheartedly in Los Angeles.

A defining characteristic of Zachary was his huge heart. He was a devoted big brother to his younger brother, Wesley. His heart knew no bounds, nor did his generosity. Throughout his life, Zach stood up and protected those who could not protect themselves, and always "had your back" if you ever needed anything. He was known for his selflessness.

Zach was a true altruist; his perspective on life's challenges was an inspiration. He had struggles during his life, but with tirelessness and perseverance, he looked for the silver lining in every hardship he encountered. During a time of intense struggle, Zach found solace in his faith in Jesus Christ and peace through his Bible. Zach often shared his spiritual beliefs and understanding with friends and loved ones. He wanted to have a positive impact on others based on those learnings. Zach always sought to give back.

It is Zach's spirit, his boundless heart, and his hopeful perspective, that the family hopes will live on through you, whether you had the pleasure of knowing him or not.

A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 28th, 2016, at Austin Ridge Bible Church, 9300 Bee Cave Rd., Building D, Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Austin Pets Alive at http://www.austinpetsalive.org/