David Carl Schmittlein passed away peacefully on March 13th after a battle with cancer. Dave was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on April 15th, 1955 to Theresa and Carl Schmittlein, the oldest of six.
He remembered his upbringing in Northampton as formative and enjoyable - if not a bit “wild”. He spent time outdoors with his siblings, playing the guitar with high school friends, riding his bike, and delivering papers for the Daily Hampshire Gazette. He graduated from Saint Michaels School in 1973, where he was the valedictorian. He went on to earn a BA in mathematics at Brown University, followed by a PhD in business from Columbia University.
At age 25, Dave began his professional career as an assistant professor at the Wharton School, often teaching MBA students significantly older than he was. He noted that in his first year at Wharton, his course evaluations ranked 193rd out of 195 faculty. Unsurprisingly for those who know him, Dave worked hard to improve his teaching, moving from a “sage on the stage” to a student-centered approach. He grew to love teaching, winning awards and influencing many students’ lives. Dave also established himself as a leading scholar in marketing, using statistical models to predict and understand consumer behavior. Beyond his research, he played an important role mentoring young faculty and doctoral students, many of whom went on to be leaders in the field. His success in these areas led to a series of administrative leadership roles at Wharton, culminating in his service as Deputy Dean from 2000-2007, where he helped to solidify Wharton’s reputation as a global leader in management education.
In 2007, Dave was appointed Dean of the MIT Sloan School of Management, holding the John C Head III Deanship. One of his primary strategic initiatives as dean was to establish a core set of values focused on the belief that organizations are the driving force behind transformative ideas – and to position MIT at the intersection of business excellence, innovation, and positive social impact. Dave was most proud of cultivating a committed, mission-oriented and inventive leadership team at Sloan. He recalled the Boston Globe headline when he joined the school: “Outsider Named Dean of MIT Sloan School.” After 17 years at MIT, he was no longer an outsider, but an integral part of the MIT community.
Dave met his wife and life partner, Barbara Bickart, in 1989 at a marketing academic conference. They grew their relationship – even while separated by nearly 1,000 miles – eventually marrying in 1992 and raising their family, Brigitte and Gabe (twins!) and corgis Coogi and Tinkerbell.
His family and friends knew Dave to be a present and compassionate listener. He had a rare ability to make people feel heard and understood, often leaving them with a sense of clarity and emotional wholeness. He was equally talented as a mentor and leader, both in his family and his professional life. People around him benefited from his humor, wisdom, creativity, and honesty. His intellectual curiosity shined through all aspects of his life. At home, he was the primary chef, music playlist curator, passionate sports spectator, bicycle tour guide, and eager partner for any meaningful conversation. He sincerely loved those around him, and in return, he was cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Dave will be missed but will be remembered for the impact he had on so many of our lives.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Bickart, his children, Brigitte Schmittlein (San Francisco) and Gabe Schmittlein (Brooklyn), his five siblings – Joseph, Jeffrey (Jennifer), Carol, Mark (Lynne), and Roger Schmittlein – and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, he requested donations to the Nantucket Conservation Foundation or to any organization that supports cancer research. A celebration of Dave’s life will be held in early fall.