TOLEDO (OH)
Toledo Blade [Toledo OH]
June 18, 2026
By Ryne Hisada and Laura Amezquita
The Toledo Board of Honor voted 3-2 on Thursday to recommend the removal of an honorary downtown street sign dedicated to the late Monsignor Jerome Schmit, a priest who was once renowned in the Toledo diocese.
Msgr. Schmit has been accused of obstructing the investigation into the April 5, 1980, murder of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl by priest Gerald Robinson.
An honorary street sign recognizing Schmit was installed at North St. Clair and Washington streets on April 5, 2002, four years before Robinson’s conviction. It was also the anniversary of Sister Margaret Ann’s death.
The honor board had initially discussed the removal last month but decided to defer the decision for 30 days.
Lee Pahl, nephew of Sister Margaret Ann, said he has been advocating for the sign’s removal since Robinson’s 2006 conviction brought renewed attention to the circumstances surrounding his aunt’s death.
“My aunt deserves better than this; we all do,” he said. “It’s never too late to do the right thing. Please remove the Monsignor Jerome Schmit Way sign. Honor my aunt, my family, and all violent crime victims over the years.”
Mr. Pahl cited testimony from Robinson’s trial that showed Schmit interrupting the investigation of Robinson.
“They stopped the interrogation of Father Gerald Robinson. They left the police station,” he said. “That was the end of the investigation into the murder of my aunt.”
While acknowledging Schmit’s contributions to the community, Mr. Pahl said the allegations surrounding the murder investigation outweigh those accomplishments.
“There is no doubt that Monsignor Schmit did lots of great things for Toledo,” he said. “But it only takes one incident to overshadow all the positives.”
Tom Antonini, the general counsel for the Diocese of Toledo, said the diocese maintains its view of Msgr. Schmit as an honored Toledo citizen.
“No competent authority has ever suggested that Monsignor Schmit engaged in wrongdoing, anything illegal, or otherwise acted inappropriately,” he said in a statement. “Any accusation against him is based on supposition and hypothesis with no foundation in objective fact.”
Two interrogators present when Msgr. Schmit walked out with Robinson testified in the 2006 trial.
“What Monsignor Jerome Schmit is alleged to have done is no different than what a good person would do for a family member, friend, or neighbor accused of a crime,” Mr. Antonini said.
City Council President Vanice Williams also cautioned against judging Msgr. Schmit.
“Guilty by association is what I think I’m hearing,” she said. “I hope that everyone understands our role and how hard it is to decide to take someone’s honor away.”
Honor Board Chairman Barbara Floyd concurred and said the lack of firsthand witnesses from the original investigation of Robinson made it difficult to determine what occurred directly following the murder.
“What happened in that room, behind that door, we do not know,” she said. “Without anyone who was in that room still alive today who can tell us what happened, it would be inappropriate for us to remove Monsignor Schmit’s name from that street.”
The three board members who voted in favor opted not to speak during the session.
Mr. Pahl was relieved to see the board vote in favor of removing the sign.
“I’m very happy, and I’m happy to move on to the next step,” he said.
Claudia Vercellotti of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests helped Mr. Pahl bring the case to the board and said she remains vigilant.
“The question remains whether the Toledo City Council will have the courage to take it down,” she said. “Not only on behalf of the family and Sister Margaret Ann, but also on behalf of all violent crime victims.”
Toledo City Council will review the recommendation for a final decision.