Kevin Matthew Schmidt

KEVIN MATTHEW SCHMIDT

July 22, 1975 - January 5, 2020

Kevin was born on July 22, 1975 in Huntington Beach, California to Donald and Janet Schmidt. He was baptized in October, 1975 by Fr. Timothy Doyle at Holy Spirit Parish in Fountain Valley.

He received First Holy Communion at St. Simon and Jude Parish in Huntington Beach in May, 1983 while attending Fountain Valley Elementary School. While Kevin was there Uncle Herb played Santa for the students and Kevin was in on the secret. His Kindergarten teacher still remembers him!

At an early age Kevin started to draw and create. He won recognition for his artwork at an art show sponsored by Bechtel where Don worked. Then for the 25th Anniversary of the city of Fountain Valley, he was awarded a medal by the Mayor for his drawing of the playground at Mile Square Park. Kevin loved magic, took magic classes at Golden West College. He really could fool his Mom but not his Dad! Kevin also played a little baseball and soccer. He and his Dad joined Indian Guides with the Arapaho tribe in Fountain Valley. After that we started camping as a family then Rving as a result.

Kevin’s love of baseball was kindled by his Uncle Herb, a great Dodger fan and Aunt Betty. Attending Dodger games as a youngster created a fan who would go to great lengths to watch a game on TV or see it in person. 

Not to be forgotten is that Kevin loved animals—Hot Dog, Gigi were the dogs and the cata, Tiger, Miss Kitty and Jovi.There was Freddy the cockatiel and various other creatures including hamsters, snakes and bearded dragons.

In 6th grade Kevin attended Fulton Middle School and met Ronnie Burnett, one of his best friends to this day. Moving on to Fountain Valley High School, he made videos with several friends for various classes and along with the academics worked with the teacher who taught clay pottery making.

After graduating from Fountain Valley High in 1994, Kevin attended Golden West College where besides the academics; he was able to develop his artistic skills in drawing and photography. He and his friend Ronnie also worked as clowns and characters for children’s birthday parties. He also worked as a balloon artist.

After some research Kevin applied and was accepted to Colorado State University for a year which yielded lots of adventure and a desire to return to California!

He enrolled in Orange Coast College in 1997 and took the required classes to transfer to UCLA. During that time Kevin spent a semester in Europe studying at the University of Paris and traveling around Europe. The teachers at OCC helped to prepare him for UCLA where a quick glance of seconds determines acceptance or rejection.

To Kevin’s credit, he was able to WOW the acceptance committee and thus began the UCLA adventure! In 2001 after 2 years of study and creating Kevin graduated from the UCLA School of Arts and Architecture with his “golden graduation gown”. Even his friends were surprised!

Kevin had a 14-year career creating—Turf and Hollywood Shadow Project then in TV, Internet and Super Bowl Commercials first as a Production Assistant all the way to Property Master. You name it he would make it!

His final years were spent in Fountain Valley with friends and family. As Kevin said, “We all help each other”. When Janet was in an accident, Kevin was helping. When Don had the stroke, Kevin’s quick response got the help Don needed. Kevin also saved a neighbor’s life with CPR directive from the 911 operator.

 Kevin loved to garden, cook and entertain family and friends and above all loved his fellow man!

Kevin—One of Kindness

Scripture says: “And  be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…

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