Like much of Austin this weekend, we at the Austin Daily Herald were grieved when we heard of Dr. Richard “Dick” Schindler’s passing this weekend.

Asked for an example of someone who exemplified the Austin spirit, you would be hard pressed to find anyone more qualified than Dick Schindler. He was a man who threw himself into any project he thought could better Austin, and he did it with a smile, a fair share of wit and a warm demeanor.

And his smile always came before words.

There are so many examples of Dr. Schindler working for Austin, but one of the more recent was the part he played in helping organize the Austin mountain biking team.

Biking was a passion of Schindler’s. He was part of the Coast-to-Coasters group that biked across America a few years ago, which spurred much pride in Austin, and he poured himself into the effort to start the bike team, even when getting kids to join looked questionable.

It was another enduring trait of Dr. Schindler that he did not give up and together with coach Spencer Salmon the two got the team up and rolling, something he took great pride in.

This is only one example of Dr. Schindler giving of himself to help others. Together with his wife Belita, Dr. Schindler was a spirit that could be unflagging and even contagious. It was a gift to Austin.

We at the Herald wish to extend our condolences to the Schindler family during this time and wish the best for them in the future. May they know that not only did he leave a mark on his family, but on Austin as well.