We lost a great guy....

[HeadHunter]

I was shocked to learn that John Schmidt passed away several days ago. John ( aka Screen Name on SB) was a good guy and well thought of in the spearfishing world.

I was lucky enough to call John a friend and dove with him on several occasions. The first time he dove on one of my boats, he showed up with a new speargun wrapped in Bubble Wrap for protection and the name just kinda stuck. He was ever more called Bubble Wrap by me and other guys on the boat.

Johns signature phrase was using the word Buddy, drawn out to buuuuuddddyyyy. You wouldn't see him for 6 months and he'd see you coming with that big smile of his and he'd stick out his hand and buuuuuddddyyyyy would come out next.

John was a serious spear fisher and won the SPO a few years ago in the prestigious Grouper category and also won the Snapper division in this years SPO, just a few weeks ago.

I'm going to miss him. My condolence's to his wife Lisa and all friends and family.

Dan

[Spear One]

Originally Posted by HeadHunter

I was shocked to learn that John Schmidt passed away several days ago. John ( aka Screen Name on SB) was a good guy and well thought of in the spearfishing world.

I was lucky enough to call John a friend and dove with him on several occasions. The first time he dove on one of my boats, he showed up with a new speargun wrapped in Bubble Wrap for protection and the name just kinda stuck. He was ever more called Bubble Wrap by me and other guys on the boat.

Johns signature phrase was using the word Buddy, drawn out to buuuuuddddyyyy. You wouldn't see him for 6 months and he'd see you coming with that big smile of his and he'd stick out his hand and buuuuuddddyyyyy would come out next.

John was a serious spear fisher and won the SPO a few years ago in the prestigious Grouper category and also won the Snapper division in this years SPO, just a few weeks ago.

I'm going to miss him. My condolence's to his wife Lisa and all friends and family.

Dan

I was also very shocked to hear the news of John's passing. John was a good friend for well over 20 years. John dove with me on my commercial spearfishing boat many times and I really enjoyed diving with him. My sincere condolences to his wife Lisa, his son Noah, and all family and friends.

[kmoose]

Very sad news.... John was always a good sport and as dedicated to spearfishing as anyone. His passing is a true loss to the diving community and my heart and prayers go out to his family and friends. I will certainly miss him.

[Marcus]

That's crazy. VERY sad to hear this. What happened??

[Spear One]

Originally Posted by Marcus

That's crazy. VERY sad to hear this. What happened??

I am just passing on the few details I was given by a close friend of John's I spoke to today. I assume the following is somewhat accurate. I am sure more details will be available in the next few days.

Apparently John likely suffered a sudden heart attack. I was told that he was driving down I-275 in Sarasota and at some point pulled over on the shoulder and parked. It is assumed that he pulled over because he was not feeling well or possibly experiencing signs of a heart issue. The Highway Patrol later found him deceased in his truck.

[jfjf]

Damn, that really makes me sad. John was a character. He could be rather serious and somewhat harsh, but he also always seemed to be enjoying himself on the water and wanted everyone else to as well.

I got to dive a few times with him on his boat over the years. He put me on some killer spots.

A few years ago he called me up out of the blue and invited me on the boat for the SPO Tournament. A crew member, Bing won with the biggest grouper. Those were some excellent times for all of us!

Hope it is OK to post two videos of diving from his boat. I think he liked the videos, especially the St. Pete Open one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsMKxr_c9IM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCZXOEnUdjU

[Marcus]

Thanks for those videos, JFJF. 'Tis a damn shame. John was a real character that had a zest for life.
My heart goes out to his family.

[SpearTen]

Very sad to hear of Johns passing. It was a pleasure having him on the boat and will fondly remember all that bubble wrap. My condolences to his family.


Ricky

[Red Tide]

Cheers to John. A great guy and a great friend.

[aue-mike]

As with everyone else, I was gutted to hear of John's untimely passing. He was an absolute joy to be out on the water with. Just another reminder of how short and fragile life is. He will be missed.
My sincere condolences go out to his family.
Mike

[vertical limit]

Sad to hear, rip, my prayers are with his family.

[jfjf]

http://www.obitsforlife.com/obituary...hmidt-John.php





John W. Schmidt Iii Obituary
Date of Birth:
Friday, May 13th, 1955
Date of Death:
Monday, September 7th, 2015
Funeral Home:
Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, Inc
curlewhills.com
1750 Curlew Road
(Between Belcher Rd. & CR 1)
Palm Harbor, Florida, UNITED STATES
34683
Obituary:
John W. Schmidt III, 60, died unexpectedly on Sunday, September 7, 2015. He was born May 13, 1955 in Massachusetts to John W. Schmidt Jr., USMC, and Sylvia M. (Schmidt) Camburn. He was pre-deceased by his father, and brother, Frank Robert Schmidt. He is survived by beloved wife, Lisa (Leatherberry) Schmidt; son, Noah S. Schmidt (fiancee Elizabeth Serletic); granddaughter, Abigail Schmidt; brother, Michael F. Schmidt (Lisa B.); David E. Schmidt (Bessie M.); sister, Donna J. (Schmidt) Hickman (John M. Hickman, Jr.); parents, David R. and Sylvia M. (Schmidt) Camburn; various extended family, nieces and nephews.

John was an activist in the commercial fishing industry, was on the board of Seafood Harvesters of America, the Gulf Fishing Alliance and was a spokesperson for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). John was a leader of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish shareholders Alliance. John also won many trophies in spearfishing tournaments. He was a Master Mechanic and was plant manager for USP Structural Company successor to Hughes Manufacturing, since 1980 until retiring to pursue his goals in commercial fishing. He was an inventor, and among his patented inventions are a double-barreled fishing spear gun and an automatic paint shaker. In his teen years he was a serious motorcycle racer, having won many racing trophies. He loved his family and loved to dance and enjoyed life to the fullest. John was beloved by all who knew him.

[apexpredator]

The one and only Screen Name......sad to hear this. My condolences to his family and friends. EMIL

Didn't he coin the "hmmmmm" post....loved that

[SpearMax]

Screen Name John was a cool cat. I spoke with him last year by phone and all seemed well in his life.

I saw his lift of the huge grouper at the SPO years ago and joy on his face.

May John rest in eternal peace. My condolences to his family and friends.

Happy spearing in heaven John! Tony