Network Marketing Legend Dies At 63

Tribute to Bob Schmidt, A Network Marketing Legend and one of the “Good Guys”

I was shocked to hear about the passing of one of network marketing’s greatest legends, Bob Schmidt. I didn’t know Bob very well, but those who do have been profoundly impacted by his life and work. I do have a very proud memory of Bob approaching me after I delivered a platform presentation to several thousand distributors in Vancouver, BC. He congratulated me on a fine presentation and was particularly interested in the content of my speech. Coming from Bob, it couldn’t have been a more flattering commentary. WOW!

I’ve copies some messages from some of Bob’s good friends. I’ve also included the newspaper article about his death. Our hearts go out to his surviving family members and good friends. We’ll miss Bob Schmidt and what he has done for all of us.

Daren Falter

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Dear Team,

It is with my deepest regret to inform you that Bob Schmidt, 200K XanGo Premier & Industry Icon, has passed away. For those of you who didn’t know, Bob was one of my very first mentors in our Industry back in 1996. I was in his downline in his previous company and worked with Bob daily as he did numerous 3 way calls for me as well as one on one presentations with me and my prospects.

I visited Bob’s office many times to listen to him speak on the phone, took notes and recorded him with my mini-casette recorder sitting in front of his phone. Words cannot express the feeling of losing someone as Special as Bob Schmidt, especially from a tragic accident such as his.
Please pray for Bob’s wife Barbara and his entire family.

Read on for more information about Bob’s passing and words from his friends and several leaders and friends whose lives he has touched.

Aaron

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Subject: Loss of Bob Schmidt…

We received this shocking news yesterday. Here is a few e-mails below from his close friends. Always a reminder to not take life for granted and to enjoy each precious moment. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Barb & her family.

Blessings, Art & Terry

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Anne and I are at a loss for words in our sorrow over Bob’s apparent drowning.  Bob and I have been friends for over 30 years.  Our heart goes out to Barbara and family in their grief.

The world of networking will mourn the loss of our greatest star and coach.He truly made a difference in thousands of lives throughout the world. Anne and I are just one example where Bob’s concern and leadership made a profound difference in our golden years. We already miss you Bob.

Leonard and Anne Hall

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Sharon Davidson

Our friend has gone home yesterday.  Bob Schmidt has gone to heaven and is in perfect peace and joy.  But we are stunned, shocked, and sadder than words can possibly express.  He is missed and will always be missed because as Ed Johnson said, “Bob was larger than life.” There are men who are born and live their lives so quietly that scarcely a leaf is overturned during their journey here. There are those who love and are loved by others, and they walk gently amongst the leaves, picking them up and sharing their beauty within that close circle of those they love. There are others who live for themselves, without caring or noticing the joys or plight of others.  They crush the leaves beneath their feet.

Then there is Bob Schmidt, a man who stopped to study the leaves, admiring how uniquely God has made each one, and with loving hands he lifted them up, touched and admired them, and then tossed them high in the air, letting the wind catch them and carry them on a new journey to fall upon others so that they, too, might marvel at their uniqueness. Bob shared what he loved.

Bob loved deeply and was in turn deeply loved.  He is the man who saw leadership hidden deep inside of others, others who were unaware themselves of what greatness Bob would help them discover.    Bob was particular, Bob was disciplined.  Bob was demanding.  But why?  Because he knew more about the potential of others than even they did and he wanted to teach them to dig down and reveal it.  He did it for them, for us, for countless others who have gone forward and passed Bob’s Legacy on to others.   He was our Simon Cowell of critics, straight forward, to the point, direct, not mincing words, but absolutely right on in his criticisms and observations because he cared and because he was Bob.  And it was his opinion and approval that we sought.

There was another side of Bob Schmidt.  Bob was a true friend.  A loyal friend.  A man of integrity and character in a world where these attributes are rare.  There was the gentle Bob that I saw cuddle a tiny puppy in his arms and fill the puppy with his love.  He looked like a proud little boy, tenderly holding this tiny bit of fluff, his newest best friend.

He loved those he took under his wing, he loved this industry.  Bob was one of those rare individuals who didn’t need to jump on a stage under the spotlight to validate himself, instead he stood back and let those he taught take the limelight, he was enormously proud of the honest achievements of others.  Bob was forever the student, observing, learning, honing his skills, and he was a voracious reader, a book always nearby waiting for him to ferret out the good lessons contained therein.  He was the hardest teacher.  He was the best teacher.  He was the teacher that will always be remembered with love, admiration and respect.

Bob loved his family.  He loved Barbara, his wife, with all his heart and soul, and those that knew Bob had never seen him happier or more content then when he was with her.  He would look at her and it was impossible for him to contain his love and admiration for her, it spilled forth from the softness in his eyes.  The honeymoon was never over for Bob and Barbara.  Bob would want us all to rally around his beloved Barbara, help her through these most difficult of times, letting her know that her friends, her XanGo family, will always be there for her, sharing her sorrow and lifting her burden.

Bob loved life. Bob was a fighter. He defeated cancer and emerged stronger and more resolute than ever. Bob was undoubtedly one of the greatest Leaders XanGo and this industry has ever known. But Bob was not content to sit alone upon that throne of achievement.  Bob wanted to pull us all up there to join him, to drink success deeply with him.

Bob has gone on to take a journey that we all must one day.  But we can say that his days upon this earth were productive, meaningful, and influenced thousands and thousands of others in the most positive way.  He made every day of his life count.

Bob left his imprint upon the leaves and lives he touched and he scattered them with intensity and deliberation all around the world so that all would see and all would believe that they, too, could emerge and become greater then they ever thought possible.

Most importantly, Bob was a Christian.  Important because he shared his faith without reserve.  Important because I know that there will be a day when I will see my old friend again in a place where there is no sorrow, and there are no tears.

Bob, Sherman and I will miss you, and we thank God that you were in our lives, that you were our friend, and are grateful for all you have done for us all.  I’ll see you at the gate. With deepest sympathy,

Sherman and Sharon Unkefer
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Good Morning,

It is with great sadness that I send this email. Our great friend and mentor Bob Schmidt died yesterday in what looks like an accident while enjoying his Kayak. The details are very sketchy at this time but an autopsy will be conducted today with services some time next week. I have been on the phone with many of my Xango friends this morning who all share the pain and the loss. Our hearts go out to Barbara the whole Schmidt family. You are in our prayers and thoughts.

Bob was to be the featured keynote speaker in Orlando this weekend and had just finished up his powerpoint for Learn to Earn on Sunday. There will no doubt be many tears and extra hugs this week in Orlando as we get together with our Xango friends and family as we work thru the grief.

Knowing Bob he would say “don’t worry about me I am having more fun than you can imagine, what’s the option?”

Sincerely,

Charlie Emmenecker
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on line news about Bob Schmidt

Adam Jensen, ajensen@tahoedailyt ribune.com
May 27, 2008

A pair of boaters discovered the body of a 63-year-old Reno man floating near a capsized kayak in Caples Lake on Monday afternoon.

The Alpine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call regarding an unresponsive man in the water at about 1:12 p.m., said Sgt. Ron Michitar ian.

The boaters had seen the man 30 minutes earlier, alive and paddling a kayak, before finding him floating face down in 6 feet of water about 50 feet from shore, clutching an overturned kayak, according to Michitarian.

The boaters were able to pull the man to shore, but the man was pronounced dead, Michitarian said.

No foul play is suspected at this time, but the investigation into the death is ongoing, Michitarian said.

The identity of the man was not immediately released Monday, pending the notification of the man’s next of kin.

Caples Lake is a half-mile east of Kirkwood Mountain Resort