March 1, 2017
March 1, 2017
Shellie Bingham Schmitt, 58, passed away after a hard fought battle with breast cancer on Monday, February 27, 2017 in Santa Monica, CA. She was born on December 29, 1958 in Oakland, CA to James and Helen Bingham and had two older sisters, Joyce and Susan. A graduate of Skyline High School class of 1976, she received her BS in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA in 1981. In college, Shellie was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority, Epsilon Chi Chapter and the American Marketing Association.
In 1981, she married her soul mate Michael Schmitt and together they raised their children Jacqueline, Jessica and Eric. Shellie worked in Product Management at Mattel Toys for over 5 years, and was particularly known for her work with Popples plush toys. A series of moves took Shellie and her family from Manhattan Beach, CA to Bad Homburg, Germany, to Denver, CO and back to Manhattan Beach, CA. Not being one to merely participate, Shellie was an active member of All Souls Catholic Community in Denver, CO and of American Martyrs Catholic Community in Manhattan Beach, CA, managing cupcake booths at parish fairs, setting the standard as a world class room mom and volunteering with Stephen’s Ministry. She was fiercely proud of her children and was engaged in their school activities including acting as an unforgettable Varsity Football Team Mom at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, CA.
This same intensity led Shellie to have a wide range of interests, hobbies and passions. She was a skilled party planner and expertly organized large school fundraisers, holiday parties, birthday celebrations and casual get togethers with friends. She was fiercely loyal to Northern California and proud of being a Bay Area native in Southern California where she relished any opportunity to champion the superiority of the northern half of the state. She had a deep passion for live music and attended multiple concerts a year across an expansive range of genres and venues. In her lifetime, she traveled to over 25 countries with friends and family. She was a skilled skier and loved spending time in the mountains, and on any given day you could find her at a beach work out or taking a long walk with friends on the Strand. Shellie had an insatiable sweet tooth and was proud of her unique ability to name the flavor of any See’s Candies chocolates by sight alone. Above all else, Shellie enjoyed having fun, making people laugh and laughing in return. Her distinctive laugh, including the lovable snort, will echo in perpetuity.
Shellie is preceded in death by her parents James and Helen Bingham, and her sister, Joyce Bourke. She is survived by her college sweetheart and husband of 35 years, Michael, daughters, Jacqueline and Jessica (and husband, Sean), son, Eric, dogs, Brodie and Ariel, her sister, Susan, nieces, nephews and numerous friends. A viewing of the body will be held Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 6:30pm followed by the rosary at 7:30pm at American Martyrs Catholic Church. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00am Monday, March 6, 2017 at American Martyrs Catholic Church. The family invites friends to celebrate Shellie’s rich and beautiful life following the funeral mass on Monday, March 6, 2017 from 11:30am to 3:00pm at 212 John Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. She will be laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA.
If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to Shellie’s favorite local independent radio station KCSN (https://www.kcsn.org/donate/), which she would want you to know is far superior to KCRW.
In 1981, she married her soul mate Michael Schmitt and together they raised their children Jacqueline, Jessica and Eric. Shellie worked in Product Management at Mattel Toys for over 5 years, and was particularly known for her work with Popples plush toys. A series of moves took Shellie and her family from Manhattan Beach, CA to Bad Homburg, Germany, to Denver, CO and back to Manhattan Beach, CA. Not being one to merely participate, Shellie was an active member of All Souls Catholic Community in Denver, CO and of American Martyrs Catholic Community in Manhattan Beach, CA, managing cupcake booths at parish fairs, setting the standard as a world class room mom and volunteering with Stephen’s Ministry. She was fiercely proud of her children and was engaged in their school activities including acting as an unforgettable Varsity Football Team Mom at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, CA.
This same intensity led Shellie to have a wide range of interests, hobbies and passions. She was a skilled party planner and expertly organized large school fundraisers, holiday parties, birthday celebrations and casual get togethers with friends. She was fiercely loyal to Northern California and proud of being a Bay Area native in Southern California where she relished any opportunity to champion the superiority of the northern half of the state. She had a deep passion for live music and attended multiple concerts a year across an expansive range of genres and venues. In her lifetime, she traveled to over 25 countries with friends and family. She was a skilled skier and loved spending time in the mountains, and on any given day you could find her at a beach work out or taking a long walk with friends on the Strand. Shellie had an insatiable sweet tooth and was proud of her unique ability to name the flavor of any See’s Candies chocolates by sight alone. Above all else, Shellie enjoyed having fun, making people laugh and laughing in return. Her distinctive laugh, including the lovable snort, will echo in perpetuity.
Shellie is preceded in death by her parents James and Helen Bingham, and her sister, Joyce Bourke. She is survived by her college sweetheart and husband of 35 years, Michael, daughters, Jacqueline and Jessica (and husband, Sean), son, Eric, dogs, Brodie and Ariel, her sister, Susan, nieces, nephews and numerous friends. A viewing of the body will be held Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 6:30pm followed by the rosary at 7:30pm at American Martyrs Catholic Church. A funeral mass will be held at 10:00am Monday, March 6, 2017 at American Martyrs Catholic Church. The family invites friends to celebrate Shellie’s rich and beautiful life following the funeral mass on Monday, March 6, 2017 from 11:30am to 3:00pm at 212 John Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. She will be laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA.
If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to Shellie’s favorite local independent radio station KCSN (https://www.kcsn.org/donate/), which she would want you to know is far superior to KCRW.
