Darin Harold Schmidt

Darin Harold Schmidt, beloved husband, educator, artist, and friend, passed away in 2026 at the age of 53. Born on July 13, 1972, in Portland, Oregon, Darin was the son of Harvey “Hal” Harold Schmidt and Melita Crissman Schmidt, both of whom preceded him in death.

Darin spent his early childhood in Tigard before moving with his family to Sherwood at the age of six, where he grew up and graduated from Sherwood High School in 1990. Following high school, he attended Portland Community College before transferring to the University of Oregon, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1996. After many successful years in graphic design, the economic downturn of 2009 inspired Darin to pursue a new path in education. He returned to school and earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from Concordia University in 2011.

After college, Darin moved to Portland to pursue his career in graphic design, working for major companies including Nike and Hollywood Video. His creativity, technical skill, and thoughtful eye for design earned him respect throughout his profession. In 2011, Darin transitioned into teaching, combining his artistic talent with a passion for mentoring young people. His first teaching position brought him to Glasgow, Montana, where he taught for three years. In 2014, he returned to Oregon and joined Stayton High School as an art teacher, where he taught until 2022 before continuing his career at Sprague High School in Salem and later McKay High School.

On February 21, 2017, Darin married Jessica Pauline Schmidt at the Marion County Courthouse. Together they built a life filled with creativity, laughter, learning, and shared adventures.

Darin was a proud and lifelong member of the Boy Scouts, now known as Scouting America. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the organization’s highest honor. As a young man, he spent many summers working at Camp Meriwether on the Oregon Coast, where he formed deep and lasting friendships. Later in life, he returned to camp as a commissioner, volunteering weeks and sometimes entire summers of his time. Darin also contributed his artistic talents to the camp community, creating custom artwork inspired by Camp Meriwether and designing commemorative patches for the camp’s 100th anniversary celebration.

A gifted artist and endlessly curious learner, Darin found joy in many hobbies and passions. He loved restoring and upgrading his treasured 1966 Ford Mustang, carefully rewiring much of the vehicle himself and adding modern features such as a backup camera and Apple CarPlay. He was an accomplished ceramic artist who created numerous vessels and hand-built pieces, and he constantly filled sketchbooks with drawings, especially portraits inspired by people he observed during visits to the Sylvia Beach Hotel. Darin was also a technology enthusiast who approached life with creativity, determination, and the belief that any problem could be solved.

Darin lived in Tigard from 1972 to 1978, Sherwood from 1978 to 1996, Portland from 1996 to 2014, Glasgow, Montana, from 2011 to 2014, and Stayton, Oregon, from 2014 until 2026.

He is survived by his wife, Jessica Pauline Schmidt, and his brother, David Wayne Schmidt, Niece Sarah, and Nephew Sean, along with many friends, former students, scouting companions, and loved ones who will deeply miss his kindness, humor, creativity, and generous spirit.

Memorial contributions may be made in Darin’s honor to OHSU.