Robert Schmertz (November 15, 1926 – July 24, 1975) was an American real estate developer and sports franchise owner. He was owner or part-owner of two NBA franchises; the Portland Trail Blazers from 1970 through 1972, and the Boston Celtics from 1972 until 1975. He also owned the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association, and the New York Stars of the now-defunct World Football League. Schmertz also founded Leisure Technology, a developer of retirement communities.
Biography Born to a Jewish family,HistoryLink: "Washington's Jewish Sports Heroes: Herman Sarkowsky (1925-2014)" retrieved June 3, 2015 Schmertz attended Hackensack High School, where he played center on the school's basketball team.Montville, Leigh. , The Boston Globe, July 12, 1972. Accessed June 13, 2011. "The last time he played publicly was as 6-foot center for Hackensack High School." The school inducted him into its Sports Hall of Fame in 1973.Staff. "Induction Night; New Jersey Sports", The New York Times, April 26, 1974. Accessed June 13, 2011. "The Hackensack High School Sports Hall of Fame will induct nine former graduates tomorrow night, bringing its total to 323 men and women.... Probably the best-known member of the Hackensack Hall is a non-athlete - Robert Schmertz, owner of the Boston Celtics, New England Whalers and the New York Stars. He was inducted last year." In 1970, Schmertz, along with his friends Larry Weinberg and Herman Sarkowsky, paid $3.7MM to secure an NBA expansion team for Portland.
In 1975, Schmertz was indicted by a New Jersey grand jury on bribery charges Schmertz pleaded innocent to the charges. In July of that year, he suffered a stroke and died on July 24. Leisure Technology would become a major developer of retirement communities, but would go bankrupt in 1991.
Prior to his death in New York City, Schmertz lived in Lakewood Township, New Jersey.via United Press International. "Bulls' Bid Denied", Times-Union (Indiana), July 12, 1972. Accessed February 10, 2011. "Robert Schmertz, a real estate executive from Lakewood, has received unanimous approval from the National Basketball Association Board of Governors to purchase the Boston Celtics, but another group was rejected in its bid to buy the Chicago Bulls."
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