Harry Joseph Schmitt

Harry Joseph Schmitt was born November 26, 1935, in Woodhaven, NY. He was the son of William Ausust Schmitt, and Marguerite Agatha Brierton, the grandson of William Schmitt and Margaret Diehl, the grandson of Harry Joseph Brierton, Sr. and Margaret Jane McAnn, the great grandson of Stephen Schmitt and Amelia, and the great grandson of James Paul McAnn and Margaret Keillian.

Harry attended New York City schools, followed by Queens college where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC, receiving his Air Force commision upon graduation. He was an excellent all-around athlete and attracted the interest of several minor league baseball teams, but planned on attending law school when his enlistment was completed.

On July 18, 1958, Harry was sent out to identify an unknown plane that was approaching the US in International Waters off of Dover, Delaware. After flying under the unknown plane to examine the wing markings, the incoming plane began to descend and Harry was killed when his plane hit the water. A memorial marker is in place at Holy Cross Cemetery where both his parents, William and Marguerite, and sister, Marion, are buried.

After his death, the famous artist Gene Magazzini (1914-1994), who was a friend of the family, painted a portrait of Harry in uniform, which then hung over the mantle at the family home in Baldwin until after Marion's death.

Harry was the third known "Harry Joseph" in the family, tracing back to Harry Joseph Brierton, Sr., and also including Harry Joseph Brierton, Jr., Harry Joseph Bowmaster, and Harry Joseph Schmitt II. It is not known if the name was first used in the family before that.