Roderick L. Schmidt(1945-2012)
- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Roderick Lawson Schmidt was a epigrapher, anthropologist, hang-glider
pilot, motorcycle racer, surfer, father, grandfather, son, brother, and
friend was a longtime resident of Lone Pine, California.
He was born December 12, 1945 in 'Montclair, New Jersey', and came with his family to California Whittier in September 1951 when he was only 5 years old. Raised in Whittier, he attended St. Mary's grade school, Pioneer High School, and then Fullerton Junior College. He became a proficient surfer, and his spent a tour of duty in the U.S. Army. It was while he was stationed in Germany that his wife gave birth to his eldest daughter.
Returning to the States after his service, Rod took up motorcycle racing, attended Rio Hondo Junior College, and fathered his second daughter. Always loving a challenge, he then began hang-gliding. He often told stories of the many times he soared over Mt Whitney.
He took interest in the pre-Columbian epigraphs (or rock carvings), at the INY-272 archaeological site near Lone Pine in Inyo County, California, and spent the next few decades deciphering them, protecting them, writing about them, and sharing their message.
He received his degree in Anthropology at California State University, San Bernardino in 2008, and returned to Lone Pine and his self-appointed task of protecting Inyo's pre-Columbian heritage. His gift to the ages is the equinox-project.com website and its message. His greatest wish was that people remember and protect the INY-272 site for posterity.
Rod perished April 14, 2012 when his residence on Highway 395 in Lone Pine caught fire. He is survived by his mother, Marie S. Schmidt, his brothers, Robert Paul Schmidt, David Glenn Schmidt, and Michael Q. Schmidt, his sisters Patricia M. Martinez and Diane L. Schmidt, his daughters Lisa Schmidt and Jennifer Schmidt, his grandchildren Alex Schmidt, Melanie Schmidt, and Andrew Barreras, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Memorial services were held Friday, May 4, 2012 at Lone Pine Park with Rod interred at the Mt. Whitney Cemetery. There was be a "Celebration of Life" picnic on Sunday, June 10, 2012, at 'Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea, California'.
He was born December 12, 1945 in 'Montclair, New Jersey', and came with his family to California Whittier in September 1951 when he was only 5 years old. Raised in Whittier, he attended St. Mary's grade school, Pioneer High School, and then Fullerton Junior College. He became a proficient surfer, and his spent a tour of duty in the U.S. Army. It was while he was stationed in Germany that his wife gave birth to his eldest daughter.
Returning to the States after his service, Rod took up motorcycle racing, attended Rio Hondo Junior College, and fathered his second daughter. Always loving a challenge, he then began hang-gliding. He often told stories of the many times he soared over Mt Whitney.
He took interest in the pre-Columbian epigraphs (or rock carvings), at the INY-272 archaeological site near Lone Pine in Inyo County, California, and spent the next few decades deciphering them, protecting them, writing about them, and sharing their message.
He received his degree in Anthropology at California State University, San Bernardino in 2008, and returned to Lone Pine and his self-appointed task of protecting Inyo's pre-Columbian heritage. His gift to the ages is the equinox-project.com website and its message. His greatest wish was that people remember and protect the INY-272 site for posterity.
Rod perished April 14, 2012 when his residence on Highway 395 in Lone Pine caught fire. He is survived by his mother, Marie S. Schmidt, his brothers, Robert Paul Schmidt, David Glenn Schmidt, and Michael Q. Schmidt, his sisters Patricia M. Martinez and Diane L. Schmidt, his daughters Lisa Schmidt and Jennifer Schmidt, his grandchildren Alex Schmidt, Melanie Schmidt, and Andrew Barreras, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Memorial services were held Friday, May 4, 2012 at Lone Pine Park with Rod interred at the Mt. Whitney Cemetery. There was be a "Celebration of Life" picnic on Sunday, June 10, 2012, at 'Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea, California'.