Charles R. Schmitter, 1907-2002

Wed Mar 20th, 2002 01:00:35 AM EST

Diary Entry 84
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Maestro Charlie Schmitter was fencing coach at Michigan State University for 45 years. He was the first American-born fencing master, the first fencing master to coach at an American university, Professor Emeritus at MSU, and owner of a collection of rare books on fencing, now donated to the MSU Library. He trained my first fencing coach, Fred Freiheit, himself a great fencer and coach in his own right, and my second fencing coach, Dale Walter.

He died in his sleep at 1:45 pm on Saturday.

Although I never met Maestro Schmitter, his teaching, as handed down through Coach Fred and Dale, determined how I learned fencing myself. I heard all about him from Dale and in the end I even felt that I knew him a little. His influence will continue to be felt for years to come.

The wake is Thursday. I am sending flowers.

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