John E. Schmeltzer III ’69

Jack died in Greenwich, Conn., June 15, 2024. He is remembered for his legal achievements, his dedication to his faith, and his passion for equestrian pursuits.

Jack’s grandfather, whose name he bore, was director of the Federal Maritime Commission, and his father was an executive of U.S. Navigation. Jack prepared for Princeton at Phillips Exeter, where he was active in dramatics, squash, and soccer. At Princeton he studied economics and classics, played squash, and ate at Colonial.

Following his graduation, Jack went on to Fordham Law School, then began a four-decade career at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler in New York City. He became a partner in the firm’s corporate department and specialized in representing publicly traded and privately held oil, gas, and mining companies. He worked extensively on transnational and specialty infrastructure projects and was also deeply committed to his involvement with the Sakharov Foundation in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

Following his retirement in 2014, Jack devoted significant time and resources to St. Michael the Archangel Church in Greenwich. He was a lifelong equestrian, finding joy in the time he spent trail riding in Fairfield and Westchester counties and near Ballyfin in Ireland.

Jack is survived by his wife, Patricia (Pixie), whom he married in 1979, and by his brother Frederick. He was predeceased by his brother William; and by his son, John IV. Pixie and Jack have remembered their son with a scholarship fund at Fordham Law School.