Terrance “Terry” E. Schmelzer, 71

Belmont, NY - Terrance “Terry” E. Schmelzer, 71, of 40 Milton Street passed away on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at home following a long illness. He was born August 19, 1949 in Hume, NY, the son of the late Edward and Dorothy A. (Strittmather) Schmelzer. In 1975 he married Gail Guilfoil in Arlington Heights, IL, with whom he had two sons; on May 17, 1993, he married Patricia Austin in Las Vegas, NV, and became the stepfather to three beloved daughters.

Terry was a 1967 graduate of Belmont Central School, and Murray State University in Kentucky. He received his Master's degree from Southeast Missouri State University. He was first employed as an accountant for the Wellsville Flood Project in 1973. He was a Physical Education and Health teacher in New Madrid, MO, and later taught at Belmont Central School. In 1985, he became a Probation Officer for the Allegany County Probation Department, where he was instrumental in developing the Electronic Home Monitoring Program. He retired in 2006.

He was involved in the Belmont Youth Sports Leagues, a member and past President of the Belmont Rotary Club, and a member and past President of the Belmont Central School Board, where he served during the merger of Belmont and Angelica schools into Genesee Valley Central School. He was a member of the Belmont Village Board and served as Mayor of Belmont for 19 years. He was an active member of Holy Family Church and the Allegany County Republican Party, from whom he received the Reagan Award in 2019. He played in the Wellsville Slow Pitch Softball League, the Poor Farmers’ Poker Club, and the Belmont Fantasy Football Leagues. He enjoyed golfing and traveling, winter vacations in Florida, and his time at the family home on Rushford Lake. He also enjoyed collecting and displaying his rock collection. He was an avid Buffalo Bills, San Francisco Giants, and St. Bonaventure Bonnies fan.

He is survived in addition to his wife, Patricia, by: two sons, Blair (Meghan) Schmelzer of Rochester, NY, and Lt. Colonel Bryan (Gopy) Schmelzer, serving in the United States Air Force, Las Vegas, NV; three stepdaughters, Alycia Tracy of Olean, NY, Amanda (Ian) Burt of Clayton, NY, and Abby (Josh) Grump of Jupiter, FL; six grandchildren, Lena, Rohan and Ellery Schmelzer, Olivia and Owen Burt, and Jackson Grump; two uncles, Albert (Peg) Strittmather of Belmont, NY, and Leo (Donna) Strittmather of Vermilion, OH; as well as several cousins. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Timothy Schmelzer, in 2005. 

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Holy Family Church, Belmont. There will be no prior visitation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department or the Belmont Free Library. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.