[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 20 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF MIMI SCHMIDT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2008

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of Emilienne Desnoyers 
``Mimi'' Schmidt, with whom I enjoyed a warm personal relationship for 
about 30 years.
  Mimi died in her sleep a couple of weeks ago. She leaves behind a 
legacy of nurturing a fine family of outstanding citizens while also 
helping to nurture a growing community. Her son Dominic is a close 
family friend, as are her grandchildren Brandon and Brianna.
  Mimi and her husband, Glen, moved to my hometown of Simi Valley, 
California, in 1962. Mimi was then pregnant with their seventh son and 
Simi Valley was a rural community of apricot and walnut groves.
  Others joined the Schmidts in moving to the valley and a cityhood 
drive was launched in 1966. Fifty-five citizens placed their names on 
the ballot. Mimi was the only woman. That effort failed but three years 
later the citizens of the two communities of Simi Valley and Santa 
Susana voted to incorporate into the City of Simi Valley.
  Glen's chairmanship of the incorporation study committee catapulted 
him into a four- year term on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors 
in 1970, which put his career as an aerospace engineer on hold. It also 
forced him to take a pay cut. With seven boys to feed, Mimi reentered 
the workforce.
  Before commuting ``over the hill'' to work each day, Mimi took the 
time to pack her sons lunches, using a whole loaf of bread to do so. 
She also helped form Cub Scout Pack 3621 and was active in the St. Rose 
of Lima Catholic Church's bereavement ministry.
  In 1979, with her family mostly grown, Mimi again ran for the Simi 
Valley City Council. Not getting elected did not diminish her passion 
for politics. She was a life member of the Simi Valley Republican 
Women's Club, serving one term as its president, and helped organize 
its annual garden tour. In addition, she served as a poll worker at her 
neighborhood precinct for many years and volunteered as a docent at the 
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
  She never forgot, however, that she was a mother and grandmother 
first.
  In addition to Dominic and his wife, Teresa, and their children, 
Brandon and Brianna, Mimi is survived by her six other sons and their 
families: David and Carol and their daughters, Samantha and Michelle; 
Dan and Phyllis; Damian and Karen and their sons, Ryan and Cameron; 
Douglas and Patricia and their son, Morgan, and twin daughters, Riley 
and Madison; Darren and Theresa and their son, Ken, and daughter, 
Stephanie; and Dennis and Julia and their twin daughters, Elizabeth and 
Melissa.
  Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in remembering Mimi 
Schmidt's lifelong love of family and community and in offering our 
condolences to her family and friends.

                          ____________________