Upper Merion man killed when tree falls on his car

Nor’easter takes a toll

The nor’easter dubbed Winter Storm Riley took the life of a 58-year-old Upper Merion man when a tree fell on South Gulph Road striking his vehicle at about 7 p.m. on March 2.

Officers and the Swedeland Fire Department responded to a report of an accident between Arden Road and Upper Gulph Road. On arrival, they found a 45-foot section of a large tree that had fallen into the road and struck a car that was headed north on South Gulph Road.

The tree had landed on the front windshield, dashboard and front seat of the vehicle. The driver, later identified as Geoffrey Schmidt, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The Upper Merion Traffic Safety Unit was on scene and will be completing the accident investigation.

Schmidt, a graduate of Radnor High School, worked as an optician in Bryn Mawr and was an avid beekeeper, and beekeeper. Schmidt was married to Ellen Schmidt (nee Brawley) and the father of two sons, William Clark Schmidt II., Patrick Geoffrey Schmidt and a daughter, Mary Kathleen Schmidt.

Ellen Schmidt described her late husband as “a wonderful, wonder person.” He loved all kinds of music and every year for the last 30 years the family attended the Philadelphia Folk Festival with “babies to teenagers,” she said. “It was a family tradition.”

“We are devastated,” she said about his death. “But we will get through with his strength.”

He was the brother of Leslie DeLigio, Susan Pié, Cindy Jennings (Tom), Lisa Boiani and the late Hank Schmidt. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

McConaghy Funeral Home at 328 Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore will hold a viewing from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 8. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on March 9 at Mother of Divine Providence Church, 333 Allendale Road in King of Prussia.