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Roger A. Schwartz

1931 - 2019

Roger A. Schwartz obituary, 1931-2019, Mendocino, CA

BORN

1931

DIED

2019

Roger Schwartz Obituary

Roger A. Schwartz of Mendocino, died at home on Dec. 25, 2019, after three years of living with metastatic prostate cancer. He was 88 years old.
Roger and Fran, his wife of 58 years, first discovered the North Coast in 1964. They fell in love with the area, returning every year, and fantasized about retiring there. In June 2005, they consummated their long Coastal love affair by relocating from Los Angeles to Mendocino.
Roger lost no time immersing himself in his new community. Two months after he and Fran arrived, he applied for appointment to the board of the Mendocino City Community Services District. As a volunteer board member, and later as MCCSD president for eight years, Roger was closely involved in a number of treatment plant, streetlight and water system upgrades. Managing the limited groundwater supply was a challenging responsibility. For 14 years, Roger worked closely with Superintendent Mike Kelley to serve the community, protecting Mendocino's water supply during several droughts and one of the worst water shortages in California history.
A life-long lover of classical music, Roger joined the board of the Mendocino Music Festival and served 14 years, including a term as vice president. He and Fran attended the Festival each summer and invited out of town friends and family to enjoy the outstanding music.
Roger also joined the Mendocino Rotary Club, serving as treasurer, and playing an active role on the scholarship and art auction committees.
He belonged to two book clubs; volunteered at the Mendocino Community Library; served as a director and vice chair of the Mendocino County Mental Health Board; and worked as a trained Senior Peer Counselor. In 2013, he founded a men's discussion group which met weekly at the Senior Center. He was particularly invested in this group and hoped it would continue, serving men in the coast community.
Roger was born Nov. 3, 1931, in Los Angeles, the only child of Mary and Albert Schwartz. He graduated from John Marshall High School in 1949 and received a scholarship to Stanford University, where he earned both a B.A. in international relations (class of '53) and an M.A. in political science (class of '55). Between his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, he spent a year in Strasbourg, France, as a Fulbright Scholar doing research on the newly-formed European Economic Community (now the European Union).
In 1963, Roger and his father started a wholesale importing business, Reliance International Marketing Company (RIMCO), which they ran successfully for 23 years. During his years as an importer, Roger traveled extensively to Europe and Asia on buying trips. After retirement, Roger and Fran visited New Zealand, the Galápagos Islands, India, Alaska, Africa, and Patagonia, among other places.
Throughout his life, Roger maintained an abiding interest in the natural world. In his youth he belonged to the Trailfinders, a hiking and camping group with whom he explored the West and climbed Mt. Lassen, the Grand Teton, and other challenging peaks. He was never happier than hiking a trail, contemplating the night sky, or gazing with wonder into the tiny cosmos of a tide pool. He transmitted this love to his children, Stephen and Liz, on adventurous family vacations throughout the West.
Roger enjoyed a life-long affinity for outdoor exercise, from long-distance bike riding to jogging to golf, which he played for more than 40 years. Despite his naturally competitive bent, he enjoyed golf primarily to be outdoors, walking the course with friends in the early morning.
Roger possessed a dry sense of humor and a keen insight into others. He enjoyed intellectual inquiry; thoughtful discussions on a multitude of topics; terrible puns, the more excruciating the better; his nightly gin and tonic; full-sour kosher dill pickles; anything with garlic; and every kind of seafood.
Above all else, Roger treasured his family. He is survived by his wife, Fran; daughter, Liz, and her wife, Beth; son, Stephen, and his wife, Lynn; and granddaughter, Lily.
Donations in Roger's memory may be made to the Mendocino Music Festival at mendocinomusic.org, and to the Mendocino Area Parks Association (Mendo Parks) at mendoparks.org.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Fort Bragg Advocate-News on Jan. 16, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
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4 Entries

Sydney Bianchi

June 12, 2021

Oh Fran, I just had a feeling something was wrong...I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved Roger. Thinking of you and hoping the memories of your wonderful life together are now bringing you comfort.
Love, Sydney

Jewels Marcus

January 24, 2020

So sorry for your loss Fran. I moved up to Washington in March last year and just now heard of your big loss. May all the wonderful memories help to sustain you and your family, and may his name be as a blessing. Much love and sympathy. What a wonderful man!

Patricia Moore

January 17, 2020

Dear Fran,
Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss of Roger. Thinking of you at this time of sorrow...
Sincerely,
Pat (Moore)

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