SMYRNA - John J. "Jay" Schmittinger, of Smyrna, passed away peacefully at home on April 11, 2011. He was 70. Born in Atlantic City, N.J., to May R. and Harold P. Schmittinger, Jay grew up in Dover, graduating from Dover High School in 1959. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Delaware in 1964, and received his law degree from Temple University in 1966. He married his wife of nearly 49 years, Susan Fritz, in 1962. He and Susan raised two children, Walt Schmittinger of Dover, and Sarah Kashner of Wilmington. He enjoyed woodworking, model airplanes, motorcycles and sailing. He traveled extensively, and was constantly looking for a new route to somewhere. He practiced law at Schmittinger and Rodriguez, P.A. for 45 years. A tenacious litigator, he never tried a case with less than an all out effort. He received a number of professional awards and recognitions during that time, but what he found most rewarding was the appreciation of those clients for whom a successful result truly made a substantial difference in their lives. However, he enjoyed none of his career so much as the final fifteen years, during which time he was able to practice law with his son. Jay is survived by his wife, Susan; his children, Walt Schmittinger and his wife Mara, and Sarah Schmittinger Kashner; his grandchildren, Claire Schmittinger, Isabelle Schmittinger, Zoe Kashner, and Beckham Kashner; his brother, Larry Schmittinger; and many nieces and nephews, friends and colleagues. Services will include a gathering at Pippin Funeral Home in Wyoming from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, and a memorial service on Friday, April 15, at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Dover. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware, 203 Bohemia Mill Pond Drive, Middletown, DE 19709. Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.