Lois ("Loe") Schwartz passed away peacefully, in her sleep, after living with Alzheimer's disease for more than a decade.
Lois was born in Bangor, Maine to Samuel ("Tyco") and Rose Cohen. Though the family moved to Los Angeles in 1945, Lois retained a life-long love for New England, returning repeatedly with her beloved sister Brenda on the search for folk art, which provided inspiration for Loe's crafting and nearly boundless creativity.
Lois attended UC Berkeley before transferring to UCLA where she majored in art history. She then embarked on a career in teaching, first in the Burbank Unified School District, and following her young family's move to San Diego, as a gifted and dedicated art teacher at the Children's School. Outside the classroom, Lois pursued a myriad of her own creative projects, notably basketry, weaving, and knitting, which were as varied as they were whimsical.
Lois's interest in sports photography began when she started photographing her sons' youth soccer matches. Youth soccer also provided an opportunity for Lois to demonstrate her calm and wise leadership skills as vice president of what was then the San Dieguito Surf Soccer Club; the club has since grown into one of the most successful youth soccer programs in the nation.
As Lois's skills as a sports photographer improved, she began covering local endurance races with writer Bob Babbitt. Bob and Lois went on to found and build Competitor Magazine into one of the largest regional endurance sports magazines of its time. Lois's photographs document the rise of triathlon, from niche sport in the early 1980s to global phenomenon, and include the iconic image of the "Ironwar" battle between Mark Allen and Dave Scott at the 1989 Ironman World Championship. Lois worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help Competitor thrive, nurturing relationships with race directors and athletes alike. She also oversaw the financial and design aspects of the business, all while creating a supportive environment for her treasured office family.
Lois had a gift for making people feel special and heard. Her smile was magnetic and her door was always open to welcome friends and family. Lois's annual "Loe Day" birthday celebration was renowned for her signature chocolate ice cream roll, one of her many legendary baked goods.
Lois is survived by her sons Jonathan and Daniel, daughters-in-law Shannon and Natasha, and grandchildren Max and Raphael. She will be missed by so many, including her brother-in-law Budge Offer, and nephews Robert and David. Lois was also loved and cared for by an extraordinary group of caregivers guided by the amazing Robin Adler. We are forever grateful for all of those, too many to name, who gave tirelessly of themselves to look after Lois in her later years. They provided her with more love and support than we could have ever imagined, as well as an endless supply of coffee chip ice cream.
Please consider making a donation in honor of Lois to the Nature Collective, https://naturecollective.org/, an organization dedicated to preserving the San Elijo Lagoon, in which Lois loved walking and never tired of watching from her window.
Lois was born in Bangor, Maine to Samuel ("Tyco") and Rose Cohen. Though the family moved to Los Angeles in 1945, Lois retained a life-long love for New England, returning repeatedly with her beloved sister Brenda on the search for folk art, which provided inspiration for Loe's crafting and nearly boundless creativity.
Lois attended UC Berkeley before transferring to UCLA where she majored in art history. She then embarked on a career in teaching, first in the Burbank Unified School District, and following her young family's move to San Diego, as a gifted and dedicated art teacher at the Children's School. Outside the classroom, Lois pursued a myriad of her own creative projects, notably basketry, weaving, and knitting, which were as varied as they were whimsical.
Lois's interest in sports photography began when she started photographing her sons' youth soccer matches. Youth soccer also provided an opportunity for Lois to demonstrate her calm and wise leadership skills as vice president of what was then the San Dieguito Surf Soccer Club; the club has since grown into one of the most successful youth soccer programs in the nation.
As Lois's skills as a sports photographer improved, she began covering local endurance races with writer Bob Babbitt. Bob and Lois went on to found and build Competitor Magazine into one of the largest regional endurance sports magazines of its time. Lois's photographs document the rise of triathlon, from niche sport in the early 1980s to global phenomenon, and include the iconic image of the "Ironwar" battle between Mark Allen and Dave Scott at the 1989 Ironman World Championship. Lois worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help Competitor thrive, nurturing relationships with race directors and athletes alike. She also oversaw the financial and design aspects of the business, all while creating a supportive environment for her treasured office family.
Lois had a gift for making people feel special and heard. Her smile was magnetic and her door was always open to welcome friends and family. Lois's annual "Loe Day" birthday celebration was renowned for her signature chocolate ice cream roll, one of her many legendary baked goods.
Lois is survived by her sons Jonathan and Daniel, daughters-in-law Shannon and Natasha, and grandchildren Max and Raphael. She will be missed by so many, including her brother-in-law Budge Offer, and nephews Robert and David. Lois was also loved and cared for by an extraordinary group of caregivers guided by the amazing Robin Adler. We are forever grateful for all of those, too many to name, who gave tirelessly of themselves to look after Lois in her later years. They provided her with more love and support than we could have ever imagined, as well as an endless supply of coffee chip ice cream.
Please consider making a donation in honor of Lois to the Nature Collective, https://naturecollective.org/, an organization dedicated to preserving the San Elijo Lagoon, in which Lois loved walking and never tired of watching from her window.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lois Carolyn Schwartz, please visit our flower store.
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