December 10 2014: SCHWARTZ, Joseph A., Jr.

JOSEPH A. SCHWARTZ, JR. (Age 93)

On Thursday, December 4, 2014, Joseph A. Schwartz, Jr. died at Riderwood in Silver Spring at the age of 93. Joe had been married to Rita Decker for 66 years until her death in April of 2011; they have two surviving children, Joseph (Jay) A. Schwartz, III (wife, Laura) of Baltimore and Nanci Jean Schaefer (husband, Harry) of Silver Spring as well as six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Joe is also survived by his youngest brother, James I. Schwartz of Silver Spring, and numerous nieces and nephews. Joe, one of seven children, was a graduate of Gonzaga High School (1939) and Georgetown University (1943). Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Army where he was assigned to a secret wartime project developing the forerunner to the present day cruise missile. After the War, Joe and Rita moved to Hyattsville where he started a successful career as an insurance and real estate broker. He was the charter president of the Hyattsville Optimist Club and became “Mr. Optimist” with his record of 37 years of perfect attendance. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Rotary and the American Legion. He and Rita were original and very active parishioners at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Hyattsville; one of Joe’s last activities there, was to serve as the unpaid construction manager for the current and very beautiful church at St. Mark’s. He finally “retired” from real estate a few years ago but not before selling the homes of scores of people so they could move in and join him and Rita at Riderwood. He started an electric cart rental business for Riderwood residents and, ever engaged, served as President of the Riderwood Night Owls, a social group that raises funds to support Riderwood residents in need. Joe remained disheartened after Rita’s death but soldiered on with his bridge friends, cart business and ever growing family. Recently, he made substantial contributions to an endowed scholarship at Gonzaga High School named after his father. Until the end, Joe remained positive and uplifting in all he did. The family expects him to continue rooting for Notre Dame from his new location. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Thursday, December 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, December 12, at Church of the Resurrection at Riderwood Village, 3110 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD at 12 p.m. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Gonzaga High School, 19 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 20001, denominated to the Joseph A. Schwartz, Sr. Endowed Scholarship Fund.

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