Longtime owner and breeder Mary Clare Schmitt, wife of California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Board member and vice president George Schmitt, passed away on January 10. She was 77 years old.
Mary Clare was born in Butte, Mont., the second daughter of John Joseph and Patricia Sullivan. Clare, a lifelong Catholic, married George Schmitt on February 19, 1966, in Butte. She has nine siblings and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She gave birth to three children and is blessed with six grandchildren. Daughter Joan Marie, married to Jeff Hawkins, has three nieces, Madison, Noel and Isabela. Son George, married to Jennifer, also has three children, Mary Grace, George the Eighth and Gavin. Clare’s third child, John Joseph Schmitt, died in 1983.
She attended Catholic schools in Butte and attended college at Montana Institute of Technology and Carroll University. She is an honorary alumnus of Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., and a passionate supporter of both the boys’ and girls’ programs at the school. She attends as many games as she can each season. Clare is a sports enthusiast, skiing and playing tennis, lacrosse and golf. The Schmitts have two holes in one, both taken by Clare at Castlewood Country Club.
In 1990, she moved to Düsseldorf, Germany with her husband, who built the world’s first digital wireless network. She became a world traveler and spent time in almost every country in Europe, supporting her husband and enjoying different cultures.
Among the leading horses of the Schmitts are funny and Izzy’s Rule California classified bet winners with coach Jeff Bonde.
image url=”//cms-images.bloodhorse.com/i/bloodhorse-images/2015/05/9130fcead90449a385b0c5567d5ccfea.jpg?preset=medium” alt=”Izzy Rules wins Las Flores Stakes.” credit=”Benoit Photo”]Izzy Rules wins 2012 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita Park[/image]
Clare is a lover of life, enjoying life and entertainment, but everyone knows to avoid what the family affectionately calls “Clare’s Stare”.
Visitation service at Graham Hitch on First Street in Pleasanton, Calif., January 13 from 5-8 p.m. Pacific time, with noon mass on January 14 at Saint Augustine Church in Pleasanton and an Burial at St. Cemetery. Augustine near her son. The funeral will be streamed online at the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/catholiccommunityofpleasanton
https://www.youtube.com/@thecatholiccommunityofplea3248
In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations for the John Joseph Schmitt Endowment for students at Saint Mary’s College. John Joseph Schmitt Endowment Foundation c/o Saint Mary’s College PO Box 4300 Moraga, CA 94575.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
