Gloria Dei Communities is honoring the memory of our Founder, Reverend Ernst (Ernie) G. Schmidt, following his passing on January 15, 2016.

As the Founding Minister of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Huntingdon Valley, Ernie Schmidt was deeply moved in the early stages of his ministry by an encounter with an elderly couple struggling with their housing situation. That couple, unable to find affordable, safe housing in their senior years, had a profound effect on Ernie Schmidt at the time. The impact of that meeting moved him to become an advocate and pioneer in helping seniors to find safe and affordable housing in their later years. Vowing to do all that he could to fulfill his promise, Gloria Dei Communities was established and began its inception into an independent, thriving, non-profit organization dedicated to affordable and quality housing for seniors.

With Ernie Schmidt’s early mission established, Gloria Dei Towers, Gloria Dei Manor and Manor Court, Gloria Dei Estates, Gloria Dei Plaza, Gloria Dei Farms, Gloria Dei Personal Care at the Park and Gloria Dei Memory Care at the Park continued his vision and have been constructed and managed by the non-profit Gloria Dei Communities Corporation over the ensuing years. Each facility has been established to better serve seniors with affordable, quality housing through every stage of their later lives.

Gloria Dei Communities is grateful for Reverend Schmidt’s compassionate vision and offers our heartfelt condolences to his family.