Monterey, CA

John Albert Schmidlin, age 86, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family after four months of illness. He was raised in Bridgeport, CT, by his devoted grandparents, Albert J. Schmidlin and Mabel L. Schmidlin, while maintaining a loving relationship with his mother, Mildred Schmidlin Redmond, throughout her life. His was a fire department family. His grandfather and two uncles logged 115 years of continuous service with the Bridgeport (Ct.) Fire Dept. John was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Bridgeport Central High School. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from California State University Hayward and graduated from the FBI National Academy – Quantico, ViA.

John served with the Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959, achieving the rank of sergeant. He enlisted with the Army’s 101st Airborne Div. at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in 1960. John subsequently completed Army Airborne, Special Forces training at Fort Bragg, NC, Infantry Officer Candidate School Fort Benning, GA, followed by Army Ranger School - Cl-2/63 - then 44th Ranger Co. (TNG).

He served three class cycles as a cadre in the Infantry Officer Candidate School 1963-65. During the Vietnam War, John served with the 25th Infantry Div. at rifle company level as a Captain. John’s principal awards included the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. While at Fort Benning, John met Donna Finney.

They were married in 1964 and welcomed daughter, Tamera, in 1965.

After active military service, John embarked upon a career in law enforcement spanning over 25 years. He served first in the San Francisco, California Bay Area, with the Richmond and Belvedere Police Departments, and retired from the Westbrook, Maine Police Department as a Captain - Field Operations - in l996, following relocation back to Monterey, CA; John was employed by The Social Security Administration until full retirement in 2002.

John met his second wife, Cynthia, in October 1977.

They were married three months later. John and Cynthia enjoyed a marriage of 46 years, sharing their love of history and politics, Great American Songbook music, Oceanside vacations, and finally, a trip to France and Italy. John was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening and long walks over the years with his loyal Basset Hounds Sherlock, Morley, and Bartholomew. He also loved his felines, especially Coon Cat, Raylan. During his law enforcement career, he became a dedicated pistol marksman and demonstrated a lifelong commitment to physical fitness.

John is survived by his beloved and devoted wife, Cynthia Low Schmidlin; his lovely daughter, Tamera L. Melrose of Scotts Valley; her husband, Don, and three cherished grandchildren: Jordan Albert, Megan Victoria, and Colin Patrick. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters, who reside in Connecticut, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Funeral Services will be held at the Paul Mortuary in Pacific Grove on Oct 1, 2024, with visitation from 4- 7 pm on September 30th. Interment will be at El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove.