Passing of John Schwartz

Date Posted: - 10/21/2009

It is with a heavy heart I report that John Schwartz passed away on October 14, 2009, of heart failure. John was the first Undergraduate Program Director in the IS Department and was with the department from 1982 until he retired in 2003. Joe McGinnis, a part-time instructor for many years stated that John was "a cornerstone of the department" while Henry Emurian, Associate Professor, lamented that John was "a rock in this department, laying the foundation for all of us." Tony Norcio, Professor, who was chair during a portion of John’s tenure articulated that "John was a wonderful colleague. He was always eager to help students and faculty. John designed and ran the undergraduate program with great care and concern.

Thanks to John our undergraduate program is what it is today. Much more importantly, John was good and decent person. It was a personal pleasure to have worked with him and to have known him. He will be missed by his "UMBC family." Amy Everhart who started out as a Master student and has since become a Senior Lecturer in the department, and who had known John for over 25 years, said "John was a rock in the department. Always had the best interest of students in mind. He was fair with all of them. He was supportive of me as a new faculty member. Great mentor, great patience, great man. He will be missed."

Whenever an alumnus comes back to campus and visits the department, one of the first questions they ask, "Is Mr. Schwartz still here?" or "How is Mr. Schwartz doing?" Tate Redding, who succeeded John as the Undergraduate Program Director, expressed his thoughts by stating, “It was such a pleasure to work with John on a daily basis. Every day he exhibited intelligence, good humor and a genuine sense of caring for the education of our students. He helped us all provide the means for student success and by his example showed how we could serve the greater campus community. In honoring John with the undergraduate scholarship named for him, we honor both excellence in the classroom and service to the community."

The John B. Schwartz Scholarship is awarded to students each semester who exemplify these qualities and if you would like to make a donation in John's memory, please contact Barb Morris (bmorris@umbc.edu) for instructions.

A "Celebration of Life" will be held at Catonsville Presbyterian Church, 1400 Frederick Road, 21228 at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 24. After the service, there will be a reception in honor of John and all are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorials are asked to be sent to the Capital Improvement Fund of the Catonsville Presbyterian Church.