Philip Thomas Schmitt

Philip Thomas Schmitt, 70, of New Carrollton, MD, died on Friday, September 8, 2023, in his sleep of natural causes.

Philip was born in Newport, RI, on December 28, 1952. He attended St. Jerome’s Elementary School, in Hyattsville, MD and then St. John’s College High School, Washington, DC, graduating in 1971. Philip attended Loyola University (then Loyola College), Baltimore, MD, on an ROTC scholarship, graduating in 1975 with a major in Sociology. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army, 60th Air Defense Artillery, for four years in West Germany.

Returning to the U.S. in late 1979, he soon began his federal government career in March 1980 at the U.S. International Trade Commission as an economics/statistical assistant and commodity industry analyst, following this assignment with a career as a budget analyst with assignments at the Department of Agriculture, the National Park Service, and finally the Department of Defense. He retired from the Department of Defense in 2006 where his last assignment was at the former Anacostia Naval Air Station, Washington, DC.

He was one of seven children born to the late Earl Joseph Schmitt, originally of Baltimore, MD, and the late Margaret Mary Wheatley Schmitt of Hyattsville, MD. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Magurn, whom he married in 1997. (An earlier marriage ended in divorce.) Philip is also survived by his sister, Theresa Marie Schmitt Crawmer of Stafford; VA; his brothers: Earl J. Schmitt, Jr. (Stacey) of Bradenton, FL; Paul Wheatley Schmitt (Jeanne) of Sarasota, FL; John Martin Schmitt of Garland, TX (whose late wife was Marianne); and Jerome Matthew Schmitt of Ocean City, MD. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Henry Winship Schmitt (Rosemary) of Wilmington, NC.

He will be remembered for his intelligence, interest in world events, analytical ability, and generosity of spirit towards all he encountered. He found much to enjoy in life: He enjoyed practicing his military drills (having led drill teams in high school and college), acrobatics, wind surfing, hiking, and skiing. He was a strong swimmer who worked as a lifeguard during the summers of his youth. He was an avid fan of science fiction and fantasy novels and the “X-Files” TV show. With his wife Nancy, he also enjoyed contra dancing, folk music, and dance festivals, including many events held at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Gasch’s Funeral Home, 4739 Baltimore Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781, (301) 927-6100. All are invited to join us to continue our remembrance of him at 1 p.m. at a repast at a nearby restaurant.

Donations in his memory may be made to Doctors Without Borders, the Nature Conservancy, the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, or to an organization of one’s choice.