Obituary for Sam Schwartz
Sam Schwartz, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on August 28 of natural causes, surrounded by his family, at his home in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He had recently celebrated his 100th birthday party with family and friends.
Sam was born to Lena and Harry Schwartzberg on July 8, 1922 in New York City, the seventh of ten children. He was raised in the Bronx where he met and married his loving wife of 75 years, Vivien (nee Zimbalist). After raising their two daughters in Yonkers, they made their home in Hartsdale for nearly 50 years.
Sam served in WWII as a welder with the Amphibious Engineers special brigade in New Guinea and the Philippines — where he ate too many canned peaches — and later toured Hiroshima with his troop. After his service, he and Vivien honeymooned in Canada, voyaged to Europe, cruised the Atlantic, and traveled to Brazil. But although Sam traveled the world, his heart was always at home.
Sam lived, by his own accounts, a wonderfully fulfilling and rich life. He adored vacationing in the Catskills, playing cards by the pool on hot summer days, watching the Yankees and Knicks in his cozy den, and enjoying a hot bowl of vegetable soup with a crusty piece of bread. But spending time with his family made him happiest of all.
Sam Schwartz is survived by his wife Vivien; his daughters Mindie Lazarus-Black and Jan Kaplan; his sons-in-law William Black and Richard Kaplan; his grandchildren Lisa Lazarus-Black Matson and her husband Michael Matson, Jesse Kaplan and his wife Sarah Obregon, and Lindsay Kaplan and her husband Richard Blakeley; and his great-grandchildren Rebecca Matson, Ellie Matson, Max Blakeley, and Sam Blakeley.
Sam was born to Lena and Harry Schwartzberg on July 8, 1922 in New York City, the seventh of ten children. He was raised in the Bronx where he met and married his loving wife of 75 years, Vivien (nee Zimbalist). After raising their two daughters in Yonkers, they made their home in Hartsdale for nearly 50 years.
Sam served in WWII as a welder with the Amphibious Engineers special brigade in New Guinea and the Philippines — where he ate too many canned peaches — and later toured Hiroshima with his troop. After his service, he and Vivien honeymooned in Canada, voyaged to Europe, cruised the Atlantic, and traveled to Brazil. But although Sam traveled the world, his heart was always at home.
Sam lived, by his own accounts, a wonderfully fulfilling and rich life. He adored vacationing in the Catskills, playing cards by the pool on hot summer days, watching the Yankees and Knicks in his cozy den, and enjoying a hot bowl of vegetable soup with a crusty piece of bread. But spending time with his family made him happiest of all.
Sam Schwartz is survived by his wife Vivien; his daughters Mindie Lazarus-Black and Jan Kaplan; his sons-in-law William Black and Richard Kaplan; his grandchildren Lisa Lazarus-Black Matson and her husband Michael Matson, Jesse Kaplan and his wife Sarah Obregon, and Lindsay Kaplan and her husband Richard Blakeley; and his great-grandchildren Rebecca Matson, Ellie Matson, Max Blakeley, and Sam Blakeley.