Dr. Jerome Paul Schmidt Phd, CBSP

Jerry was born to Leo and Anna Weishaar Schmidt on a farm just outside of Nortonville, Kansas. Following the death of his father in 1932, the family moved to Atchison, Kansas, where Jerry graduated from Maur Hill in 1945 and then earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 1949 from St. Benedict’s College. He served as a U.S. Naval Aviation Cadet in World War II and earned his Master’s degree in Bacteriology from Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas in 1952 after the war ended. During the Korean War, Jerry served in the U.S. Army as an Army Medic and did research for the U.S. Air Force at the Arctic Aeromedical Laboratory in Fairbanks, Alaska, from 1956 - 1961, where he developed and tested various A2 influenza vaccines. He received his Doctoral degree in Microbiology in 1963 from the University of New Hampshire, and then moved to San Antonio, Texas to serve as Chief Microbiologist at Brooks Air Force Base, School of Aerospace Medicine. He spent his life dedicated to research, volunteering in his communities, and caring for others including his family.

Jerry was married to Rita McCarthy from January 1958 to September 1982, when she developed pancreatic cancer and passed on a few months following her diagnosis. Jerry and Rita were not blessed with children of their own, but volunteered teaching religious education at their parishes in Alaska, New Hampshire, and Texas. He met his second wife, Pamela Messer Blankinship in 1982 through mutual friends. Pam was recently divorced with 2 young children, Amber Brooke and Ashley Beth. Jerry and Pam were married in July 1986 in San Antonio, Texas. Jerry adopted Amber and Ashley in December 1991.

Jerry retired in 1990 after a very satisfying career in microbiology, virology, and space exploration research as a civilian consultant. He was an active member of 7 national and international scientific organizations and published over 100 research articles in leading professional scientific journals and books. Jerry also served in many official positions within these organizations including as President of the American Biology Safety Association, Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and as a Certified Biological Safety Professional and Consultant of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the NASA astronaut and moon mission programs, of Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the Mars mission programs, and of the National Academy of Science for a book on laboratory safety and universal precautions. Jerry’s civic activities include being President, Board of Governors at St. Peter’s - St. Joseph’s Children’s Home, San Antonio, Texas; Allocations Panel, United Way of San Antonio, Texas; Development Board of the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas; Board of Governors of Benedictine Collage, Atchison, Kansas; President of the Board of the Benedictine Sisters Ministries Corporation, Boerne, Texas; Oblate of St. Benedict, St. Scholastica Monastery, Boerne, Texas; and as a middle and high school mentor with East Central ISD and North East ISD in San Antonio, Texas. Within his church, Jerry served as President of the Parish Council, Lay Eucharistic Minister, and was involved in the RCIA and ACTS programs. After retirement, Jerry spent 20 years as a hospice volunteer in San Antonio, Texas.

Jerry fought a long battle with Dementia and passed away in his sleep at his home on February 13, 2026. He is preceded in death by his parents Leo and Anna Weishaar Schmidt; his brothers, Leon and William (Bishop Matthias, OSB) Schmidt; his sister, Lucy Schmidt Walker; and his first wife, Rita McCarthy Schmidt. He is survived by his second wife , Pamela Messer Schmidt; by his children, Amber Brooke Schmidt and Ashley Beth Messer-Schmidt O’Brien; and by his grandchildren, Peter Mesa Medina, Tina Cecilia Medina, Joshua Risher Medina, and Parker Jane O’Brien.

Services will take place on Monday, March 2, 2026, at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church (102 Lorenz Road, San Antonio, Texas 78206), with the Rosary beginning at 10:30 a.m. CST, the Life Celebration Mass beginning about 11:00 a.m. CST, and a Reception following from 12:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. CST.

In lieu of gifts and flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in Jerry’s name to the Benedictine Sisters of Boerne (216 West Highway Drive, Boerne, Texas 78006) or to Padua Place (80 Peter Baque Road, San Antonio, Texas 78209). The family is grateful for the loving professional care of the Gentiva Hospice Staff, the loving and professional care of the Honor’s Care Providers, and of the continuing love and support of friends and family.