Home > United States of America > New Jersey > Bergen County > Mahwah > Maryrest Cemetery > Fr Sylvester Schmitz

Fr Sylvester Schmitz

Birth	:	13 Jul 1888 Nemaha County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	18 Dec 1953 Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.0714700, -74.1814400
Description	:	Father Sylvester Schmitz The father of the modern St. Benedict's College, known as "the Bear" by generations of college students, died at age 65 of a heart ailment at St. Margaret's Hospital, Kansas City, KS. He was born at St. Benedict (Wildcat), St. Mary Parish, Nemaha County, KS. He did his preparatory school work in Atchison and later at St. John's University, Collegeville, MN. He made first profession in 1909 and was ordained priest June 28, 1912. For a time he taught Latin, Greek, and mathematics at St. Benedict's before doing graduate work at Columbia University. Father... Read More	Father Sylvester Schmitz The father of the modern St. Benedict's College, known as "the Bear" by generations of college students, died at age 65 of a heart ailment at St. Margaret's Hospital, Kansas City, KS. He was born at St. Benedict (Wildcat), St. Mary Parish, Nemaha County, KS. He did his preparatory school work in Atchison and later at St. John's University, Collegeville, MN. He made first profession in 1909 and was ordained priest June 28, 1912. For a time he taught Latin, Greek, and mathematics at St. Benedict's before doing graduate work at Columbia University. Father Sylvester and Abbot Martin Veth were the only teachers in the first Summer School started at Mount Saint Scholastica in 1919. He later earned a doctorate from the Catholic University of America in psychology and education in 1927. Dom Thomas Verner Moore, OSB, was one of his teachers. On his return to Atchison he began the process of changing St. Benedict's College from offering a European style curriculum to being a genuine modern liberal arts College. Accreditation from the North Central Association and the University of Kansas were attained, degrees in the liberal arts and sciences became a reality. Intercollegiate athletics began to flourish. Father Sylvester wrote in various journals on educational matters. He decried the neglect of the teaching of spelling in the elementary schools. His dissertation was entitled, "The Adjustment of Teacher Training to Modern Educational Needs." Though classically trained, "his influence on education in the middle west was to liberalize and modernize it," said The Atchison Daily Globe. Classical he was and he loved to teach Latin to beginners at St. Benedict's College. Each year he offered a 6-hour-a-week, no-credit course for anyone who wanted to learn, largely students for the priesthood. During their exams he often played the zither which he built while his beleaguered students were trying to concentrate. Father Sylvester built not only a zither, but also a boat that he sailed on the Missouri River. He also built a storage facility for it and the oars. The building was sometimes referred to as "Father Sylvester's ‘Oar' house." Of such stuff legends are made. Father Sylvester was the older brother of Father Edward Schmitz. To this day the Schmitz brothers are beloved of their many relatives living at St. Benedict, many in what is fondly called, "Schmitzville." While Father Sylvester was nicknamed "The bear," Edward was known as "the cub."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Fr Sylvester Schmitz's memorial?
Fr Sylvester Schmitz's memorial is located at: Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, Bergen County, USA.
When did Fr Sylvester Schmitz death?
Fr Sylvester Schmitz death on 18 Dec 1953 in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Fr Sylvester Schmitz's memorial?
Latitude: 41.0714700
Longitude: -74.1814400

Family Members:

Parent

Joseph Schmitz

(1840 - 1925)

Helen Novak Schmitz

(1854 - 1949)

Siblings

John Leo Schmitz

(1884 - 1973)

George Edward Schmitz

(1886 - 1963)

Peter Paul Schmitz

(1891 - 1955)

Fr Edward M. Schmitz

(1893 - 1978)

Frank Albert Schmitz

(1895 - 1980)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Maryrest Cemetery
Mahwah, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0714700, -74.1814400

2. Hopper Cemetery
Mahwah, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0884140, -74.1723880

3. Hopper Slave Cemetery
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Coordinate: 41.0884140, -74.1723880

4. Union Cemetery
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Coordinate: 41.0602500, -74.1575800

5. Amberfields Cemetery
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Coordinate: 41.0570220, -74.2142170

6. Ramapo Lutheran Church Cemetery
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Coordinate: 41.0912830, -74.1532730

7. Ramapo Reformed Church Cemetery
Mahwah, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0946655, -74.1530838

8. Redeemer Cemetery
Mahwah, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0389900, -74.1803700

9. Mahwah Cemetery
Mahwah, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0956000, -74.1521100

10. Hopper Farm Family Cemetery
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Coordinate: 41.0494200, -74.2243200

11. Christ Episcopal Church Columbarium
Suffern, Rockland County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1121000, -74.1497500

12. Mountain Cemetery
Mahwah, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1211014, -74.1903000

13. Snow Mountain Pet Cemetery
Mahwah, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1218100, -74.1858900

14. Airmont Lutheran Cemetery
Airmont, Rockland County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1019300, -74.1195200

15. Union Cemetery
Wyckoff, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0146980, -74.1519920

16. Little Zion Methodist Church Cemetery
Upper Saddle River, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0542630, -74.1003660

17. Wyckoff Reformed Church Cemetery
Wyckoff, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0072700, -74.1726900

18. Gates of Praise Cemetery
Ramapo, Rockland County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1355800, -74.1672200

19. Fairview Cemetery
North Bergen, Hudson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0065219, -74.1540356

20. Evergreen Cemetery
Ramapo, Rockland County, USA
Coordinate: 41.1113663, -74.1041336

21. Saddle River Low Dutch Reformed Cemetery
Upper Saddle River, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0710500, -74.0863600

22. Demarest Family Cemetery
Oakland, Bergen County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0187940, -74.2493850

23. Gates of Zion Cemetery
Airmont, Rockland County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0828590, -74.0848630

24. Boardville Cemetery
Ringwood, Passaic County, USA
Coordinate: 41.0995979, -74.2729034