Bob’s interest in music began in high school and developed during his undergraduate years at C.I.T. where he organized and led a dance band and wrote for the college musical theater group, “Scotch ’n’ Soda”. While teaching at Tech he wrote its popular school song, “Fight for the Glory of Carnegie”. Bob continued to write verses for a friend’s birthday or anniversary, songs in a variety of styles, musical material for the Pittsburgh Playhouse, the Architectural Club and numerous other civic and community group productions. Bob’s talents in the graphic arts were also broad, ranging from precise architectural renderings to charming watercolor scenes to his amusing and distinctive cartoon style of which the illustrations in the book are an example.

Bob suffered deeply from the loss of his beloved wife, Mildred Floyd Schmertz, in 1963 as he had from the death of their elder son, Robert W. Schmertz, Jr., in a tragic accident in 1948. Their other children carry on in the family tradition - daughter Mildred Floyd Schmertz is senior editor of the Architectural Record; Gretchen Schmertz Jacob is a teacher of fine arts and frequently performs Bob’s songs in concert, often with brother John C. “Jack” Schmertz, a mechanical engineer and amateur flautist.

Bob’s music is gradually gaining wider recognition. “Monongahela Sal”, probably his best-known composition, is being sung over a good part of the world and is included in George Korson’s book, Pennsylvania Songs and Legends. Burl Ives’ recording of “Angus MacFergus MacTavish Dundee” is known to a generation of children from the “Captain Kangaroo” television show. “Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord”, recorded by both Ives and Tennessee Ernie Ford, is now in a German translation which has sold a half-million copies in Europe.

Perhaps above anything else Bob Schmertz enjoyed performing, always in his completely natural, relaxed and witty style. He especially enjoyed performing with a group of friends and family, for Bob was eager to share the spotlight and to encourage others - particularly young people - to perform. On 12 April 1975 at the age of 77 he appeared in a concert and in the next few days completed the last sketches for this book; a few weeks later he died. All the folks he encouraged to sing and the songs he made for us are his legacy.

Lord, Lord, we’ve got some singing to do!