Individual to be memorialized: Bill Schmoldt
Nominating Club: Shore Aquatic Club
Reason individual is being named:
William C. Schmoldt (1947-2002) was an inspiration to many divers in
and out of the State of New Jersey. Employed for many years with
AT&T in Holmdel, NJ, Bill had a life-long passion for diving and
shipwreck history. An avid artifact collector, Bill dived
shipwrecks frequently off the New Jersey coast, but also visited Canada
to seek artifacts to further expand his collection. He would
painstakingly conserve and carefully display his artifacts in his
Brielle home and throughout the region as opportunities presented
themselves. Bill also researched the wrecks he would dive.
The amount of information he collected was so vast, he began presenting
his findings at dive clubs and other organizations on a regular
basis.
Perhaps Bill’s greatest accomplishment was to open the Brielle Dive
Center and Brielle Maritime Bookstore, a two-in-one establishment that
offered divers the opportunity to expand their knowledge of shipwreck
history while waiting for their tanks to fill or while buying needed
gear. The artifacts Bill displayed in his shop were not only his
own, but also on loan from such noted area divers as Captain George
Hoffman, Captain Bill Nagle, and others. Bill Schmoldt’s vision
was to create a “clearing house of information” as it related to area
divers and what they were exploring. Ultimately, he planned for
his shop to become a museum and research center for anyone interested
in shipwreck history. Unfortunately, that vision failed to fully
materialize, but for the time his shop was open, ideas flowed,
artifacts were displayed, and dive trips were planned - and booty was
collected! His idea was the inspiration for the New Jersey
Historical Divers Association’s shipwreck museum.
Bill was an honorary member of SAC. He educated us with his slide
presentations, he awed with his knowledge of shipwrecks and their
histories, and he entertained us with tales of his exploits (he also
did us a few favors at the shop - thanks Bill).
Bill Schmoldt died after complications associated with a heart attack
and the bends while diving the Andrea Doria in 2002. He was a
joker, a prankster, and a real friend. We miss him, and we miss
his smile.
Date Submitted: November 19, 2008