Roll Call Tribute

Edward James Schmeltz

June 22, 1949 - March 9, 2022

Edward James Schmeltz, 72, of Greenwich and Branford, CT, passed away surrounded by his family, on March 9, 2022. Beloved husband of Donna, they shared 48 years of marriage together.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, he was the son of Edward and A. Loretta (Pittman) Schmeltz. He grew up in Chatham, New Jersey. He graduated from New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), BSME and Texas A&M University, MCE with a specialty in Coastal and Ocean Engineering.
Ed worked as a coastal engineer for over 45 years, working in 21 states, 37 countries and 6 continents, leaving his impression throughout the world with his exceptional work as a coastal and marine engineer. Some of his most compelling projects were for the U.S. Navy including, designing berth and support facilities for the battleships U.S.S Iowa in New York Harbor and U.S.S. Missouri in Pearl Harbor; channel improvements for CVN nuclear aircraft carriers in San Diego; and berth and support facilities for the Trident nuclear submarines in Kings Bay, Georgia. Other landmark designs include restoring Whiskey Island, one of the barrier islands that protect New Orleans and the tender design of the Third Set of Locks for the Panama Canal. He was a Distinguished Member and recipient of the OPAL Award in Design from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); a Fellow of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) and past President of the NYC Post; Vice President, Americas, Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses (PIANC); a Founding Member of the Coastal, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute (COPRI); and a member of the Moles. He was a Diplomate in 4 disciplines; Coastal, Ocean, Port and Navigation Engineering and a licensed PE in several states. He served as Chairman of the Flood and Erosion Control Board in Greenwich. His many accomplishments and the impressive projects he worked on, too numerous to list, were achieved through his intelligence, persistence, and precision; but his many awards and recognitions came from his peers and people he impacted as a friend, teacher and mentor.
In his work, and in life, Ed was universally regarded as an exceptional engineer and "the nicest guy you ever met" who enjoyed helping people and supporting young engineers. His support of young engineers was evident through his service on the board of his former college, NJIT which awarded him the Lifetime Alumni Leadership and Alumni of the Year Awards.
Ed was an avid private pilot who spent as many hours as possible flying a Cessna up and down both coasts, enjoying the views and the smooth air. When he wasn't flying he could be found engineering any number of home improvement projects, in his home or his children's, for which he had the skill to do nearly anything. "If you want it done right, do it yourself." He spent nearly a lifetime being a tortured fan of Texas A&M Football. During games, you could find him yelling at the TV or pounding nails haphazardly into his workbench in the basement. Ed enjoyed golfing with friends or his children, a glass of wine and Branford sunset on the front porch with his wife and a cruise around Tod's Point with the top down on his Porsche. By far his favorite pastime, however, was being an exceptionally loving father to his two children and Grunka and Papa to his six grandchildren who he adored babysitting for, playing with and supporting at their events.
He was predeceased by his brother James and nephew Cdt. Edward Joseph Schmeltz. He is survived by his wife, Donna, daughter Leigh Erin Izzo and husband Daniel of Old Greenwich, son Erik Schmeltz and wife Rebecca of New Canaan and his 6 grandchildren, Colton, Bennett, Tanner, Parker, Sadie and Logan.
A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, March 19 at 10:00am at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Riverside, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to a scholarship held in his name to support engineering students as Ed always liked to help people when he could, especially young engineers. Donations can be made to: SAME, NYC Post Scholarship Fund, Inc., and mailed to: SAME, NYC Post Scholarship Fund, c/o Judy Cooper, President, 999 Grant Avenue, Pelham Manor, NY 10803.