I’ve been thinking about Coach Charles Schmitter lately. He was a true man of the world – he spoke five languages fluently, traveled all seven continents, stayed married for five decades, and taught me a great deal about fencing and many other subjects. Coach was the first American to achieve the international rank of Maestro. He could give a lesson with any weapon in either hand – a remarkable feat. By the time I knew him, he had slowed down, but it did not matter. He could still hit you and leave you wondering how he did it.
He was an exceptional man and rare.
The last two pics are, I believe, from Big Ten Finals during my junior year.
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