Team Loses Founding Member
Written by Rick Vogl on August 30, 2010
Team 230 has lost one of its founding members, Louis J. Schmecker. Mr. Schmecker was the Team 230's main team leader from the team's start in 1998 through the 2010 FIRST Robotics Season. He was often nominated by the student team members for the Woodie Flowers Award at the various Regional Events that the team attended over the years. Most of the Regional trips he personally coordinated.
Lou formally trained as an engineer left industry 31 years ago to pursue a career in teaching. With 30 years of service in the Shelton School system as a Physics teacher he retired in 2009 but continued on as a mentor with Team 230.
Lou was instrumental in designing all of the mechanical elements for 230 robots from our rookie year to the Breakaway robot. He will be missed.
Obituary for Louis Schmecker
Born: Derby
Lived: Shelton
Louis J. Schmecker, Jr. age 62 of Shelton entered into rest on Monday Aug. 30, 2010 in the Griffin Hospital Derby. He is the devoted husband of Charlotte Popowski Schmecker.
Louis was born in Derby Sept. 8, 1947 son of the late Louis J. Schmecker Sr. and Mary Anne Beatrice Schmecker, and was a lifelong Shelton resident. He was a teacher with the Shelton School System for 30 years teaching at the Shelton Intermediate School and retiring in 2009 from Shelton High School as a Physics Teacher. He was one of the founding members of the Shelton High School Robotics Club, was a member of the Shelton Education Association, and was known to his friends and family as “Mr. Disney”
Louis is the beloved father of Daniel Schmecker, and Jillian Giampaolo and her husband John. He is the loving brother of Francis M. Schmecker and his companion Angela Hall, Mary Louise Barnstien ,and her husband Ralph, and the late John L. Schmecker. He also leaves his cherished granddaughters Maya, and Sienna. Louis is the caring brother-in-law of Carole & James Mihalick, and Elaine and George Voytek, and also leaves several nieces and nephews.
