In Memory of Reverend Herb Schmidt
Reverend Herb Schmidt (August 7, 1930 – February 10, 2026) was a gentle, courageous campus pastor whose more than sixty years of ministry wove together faith, social justice, and community service from Santa Cruz to Stanford and beyond. He will be remembered as “a gentle, kind, loving husband, father, grandfather, and courageous Campus Pastor who worked for issues of Justice and Peace for ALL throughout more than 60 years of ministry.”
Campus pastor, peacemaker, and co‑founder of United Services Agency
Life and ministry
Reverend Herb Schmidt was born on August 7, 1930, in Jefferson City, Missouri, to Henry T. and Bertha Schmidt. He grew up working on his father’s and grandfather’s truck garden and attended parochial school at Trinity Lutheran Church, where he decided very early that he would become a pastor.
His education continued at St. Paul’s Academy, a preparatory high school of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. He graduated from St. Paul’s College in Concordia, Missouri, in 1950 and completed his preparation for ministry at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, graduating in 1955.
In July 1956, Herb married Grace Mae Kitzman of Coral Gables, Florida, beginning a 67‑year partnership in life and ministry. He began his ministry at Concordia College in Oakland in 1955, later serving Messiah Lutheran Church in Santa Cruz, where he was also ordained at Zion Lutheran Church in Oakland and helped start Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Soquel.
In 1968, Herb accepted a call to serve as the first Campus Pastor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and as Coordinator of Campus Ministry for the California, Nevada, and Hawaii District of the LCMS. At UCSC, he helped establish the University Religious Council—still active today—and, together with faculty colleagues, helped start the Religious Studies program.
His campus ministry later took him to the University of Arizona in Tucson and then to Stanford University, where he served as Lutheran Campus Pastor and Pastor of University Lutheran Church in Palo Alto. He officially retired from full‑time service in 1998, though in truth, his ministry never really stopped.
Throughout his life, Herb’s faith was inseparable from his commitment to justice and peace. In Santa Cruz, he became deeply involved in the Civil Rights and Anti‑War movements, helping close the local draft board, supporting conscientious objectors, and encouraging students to engage in local politics.
In 1970, together with his friend Paul Lee, other faculty, campus ministers, and community leaders, he helped form the University Services Agency (USA), which launched projects such as the Whole Earth Restaurant, the Campus Day Care Center, the Food and Hardware Co‑op, the Youth Hostel, the Community Switchboard, and many other community service nonprofits.
Even after leaving Santa Cruz, Herb remained deeply involved in peace and justice ministries—in Central America through the Sanctuary Movement, in the West Bank and Gaza with Mid East Witness, and in Haiti through Tet Ansam, a student volunteer corps he helped start while at Stanford. In retirement, he continued to serve as an interim pastor in multiple congregations, volunteered with the Protestant Church in Bali, and worked with the Resource Center for Nonviolence on issues of Middle East peace.
In his later years, Herb cherished gardening with Grace, spending time with their grandchildren, and traveling, including visits to Costa Rica to be with their son Richard and his family. He will forever be remembered for the gratitude and blessing circles he led before meals with family and friends.
His four sons—Conrad (Vicki), David, Richard (Marisa), and Raymond (Karyn)—and seven grandchildren: Konrad, Carlo, Johann, Courtnay, Dominic, Richie, and Makai, all live in Santa Cruz. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Stephen Schmidt; his sister, Henrietta Kieschnick; and his beloved wife, Grace Mae Schmidt.
Timeline
1930
Birth in Missouri
Born in Jefferson City, Missouri, to Henry T. and Bertha Schmidt
1950
College graduation
Graduates from St. Paul’s College, Concordia, Missouri
1955
Seminary and first call
Completes studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and begins ministry at Concordia College in Oakland.
1956
Marriage to Grace
Marries Grace Mae Kitzman of Coral Gables, Florida.
1960
Move to Santa Cruz
Accepts a call to Messiah Lutheran Church in Santa Cruz; helps start Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Soquel.
1968
First Campus Pastor at UCSC
Becomes Campus Pastor at UCSC and Coordinator of Campus Ministry for the California, Nevada, and Hawaii District of the LCMS; helps establish the University Religious Council and Religious Studies program.
1970
Founding of University Services Agency
Co‑founds University Services Agency (USA), launching community projects such as the Whole Earth Restaurant, Campus Child Care, and the Community Switchboard.
1978
University of Arizona
Serves as Lutheran Campus Pastor at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
1986
Stanford University
Becomes Lutheran Campus Pastor at Stanford University and Pastor of University Lutheran Church in Palo Alto.
1992-2018
United Services Agency, second phase
USA is re‑incorporated as United Services Agency, supporting more than 35 projects in environmental work, homelessness, education, youth, gender justice, and international initiatives.
1998
Retirement from full-time ministry
Officially retires from full‑time service, but continues interim pastorates, global mission trips, and justice work.
2026
Passing and memorial
Dies peacefully of natural causes on February 10, 2026, surrounded by family; a memorial service is held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Santa Cruz.
“You have it backwards – when I leave, I am going to miss all of you!”
- Reverend Herb Schmidt
