Richard Norman Schwartz

Richard “Dick” Schwartz, 83, died on Tuesday July 5th, 2016 of complications following open heart surgery. He died at Valley Baptist Hospital while in hospice care with his wife of 61 years, Janet J. Schwartz, 82, at his side along with his daughter, Martha M. Brenna (married to David Brenna) of Olympia, Washington. Dick, son of the late Norman Schwartz and Mildred (Tervehn) Schwartz, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1933. Dick is survived by his son Donald R. Schwartz (married to Ann G Schwartz) from Ann Arbor, Michigan, daughter Jennifer J. Radecke (married to Ken J. Radecke) from Odessa, Delaware, and 4 grandchildren, Juliann M. Schwartz, Hannah V.S. Petertil, Carleigh C. Schwartz, and Maxwell M. Levenberg. Dick and Janet were married in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on Sept. 3, 1955. Dick received his B.A and M.A. in political science from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and worked for many years as a Senior Administrator at Universities throughout the country. He served as Interim President at Evergreen State College; Director of Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer at University of Michigan, Dearborn; Campus Planner at Stockton State College; and as Executive Vice President of Monmouth College where he was the first to propose creating a football team. Dick and Janet lived in Ann Arbor, MI, Westlake, OH, Linwood, NJ, Olympia, WA, and Ocean, NJ before retiring to Harlingen, Texas in 2007. Dick loved gardening, golfing, opera, and reading about United States political history. Recently he enjoyed having dinner and discussion with close friends Liz and John Lundquist and Patricia and George Lopez as well as spending time at the Harlingen Country Club. Dick was a warm and caring man who was always willing to go out of his way to help others. He will be missed dearly.  Dick’s cremation is being handled by the Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home in Harlingen. Dick’s ashes will be interred in Michigan. Dick preferred not to have a viewing or funeral; however, the family will have a private celebration in his honor.  Donations in Dick’s name can be sent to either the University Lutheran Chapel in Ann Arbor, Michigan or the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

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