Diane Spieth Schmidt

Diane Spieth Schmidt, who died on February 8, had an interment ceremony at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village cemetery in Los Angeles, California, on March 22. Schmidt, 75, was a resident of Brentwood and Pacific Palisades for most of her life. She had severe dementia as well as several other medical conditions that contributed to her death.

Schmidt was in the first graduating class from Palisades High School and was the first student to attend Girl’s State from Pali, under the sponsorship of the American Legion. Although trained as a clinical psychologist, she chose to spend much of her work life as the office manager at Palisades Lutheran Church from 1985 to 2011. Previous to that, she was an Air Force wife and had been a college professor.

In her younger years, Schmidt taught Latin dance, ballroom and aerobics, was a manager with the Jafra Cosmetics corporation, and worked for a company that made space suits for the first men on the moon. During her middle-aged years, she still loved to dance, dine and sing in the choir at Palisades Lutheran Church. All who knew her remember her as ever-willing to help someone in need; an empathetic listener with a loving smile and a marvelous sense of humor.

Schmidt is survived by her husband of 48 years, Bucky Schmidt, her daughter Cyndi Ramirez, her granddaughter Katie Ramirez, her son-in-law Joe Ramirez and brother John Spieth.

The family is hoping to have a celebration of her life sometime this summer as the pandemic allows.