Jane Schimel, an assistant director and unit production manager who was one of the first women to successfully break into those professions in New York, died November 24, 2012, in New York City. She was 72.
According to news reports, the cause was cancer.
Schimel worked on more than 1,500 commercials in a career that spanned five decades.
She was also active in the Directors Guild of America and at one point was a DGA national board vice president.
In a statement, Directors Guild of America president Taylor Hackford said: "We are deeply saddened to learn today of the passing of former DGA national board vice president Jane Schimel. Jane served at the highest levels of guild leadership and was the DGA’s first female national vice president. Jane was a passionate defender of the rights of assistant directors and UPMs."
More about her life and work is available at: