Donald Leroy Schwarz

1946 - 2021

February 16, 1946 - May 14, 2021 Donald Leroy Schwarz, a Los Angeles native, died on Friday, May 14, 2021, at his home in Scottsdale, AZ. He was a successful financial advisor and portfolio manager with RBC Wealth Management in Beverly Hills, as well as a noted philanthropist. He was the son of Maurice Schwarz and Marjorie Ann Guggenheim Schwarz and spent most of his life in Southern California. After graduating from Los Angeles High School, Don pursued his interest in becoming a veterinarian which led him to study animal husbandry at Los Angeles Pierce Junior College. He later earned a BS degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science with a minor in Agricultural Business Management, which he received from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. And his brief service in the US Army was focused in the medical veterinarian service detachment, training as a veterinary specialist at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He remained in the US Army Reserves until being honorably discharged.In 1967, Don decided to follow in his father's footsteps and joined him at Sutro and Co., a California-based investment banking and brokerage firm. Starting in the mailroom, he worked his way up to become a clerk on the floor of the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange, and later a broker and financial advisor to private clients. In 1990, Don joined the firm of Wertheim Schroders & Co., a 200-year-old British investment and merchant bank. In 2000, Citigroup acquired the company, and the North American arm became Smith Barney. In 2009, Don joined RBC Wealth Management, as a senior portfolio manager in the Portfolio Focus program. He was recently named Managing Director and continued to direct the research efforts of his team in the Tailored Portfolio Management Group, until his death. Don was named one of the top 25 portfolio managers by California CEO magazine. In 2019 Don was named a Forbes/SHOOK best-in-state wealth advisor. He was named a Financial Times Top 400 financial advisor in 2017, 2018 and 2019 as well as being recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the most influential financial advisors in Los Angeles. Don has been an active community service volunteer for 50+ years, and proud of his heritage. He touched the lives of countless people over the years. He served on the President's Advisory Council of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science (Rehovot, Israel), as well as JINSA, the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, a think-tank based in Washington D.C. He served on many boards including the Board of Overseers of the Los Angeles campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Board of Governors of City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services. Additionally, Don was a former president of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. Most recently, Don founded and chaired the MVAT Foundation, whose mission is to support veterans of the US Armed Forces and their families, with a focus on post-service career building through the Heroes Linked program. The Military and Veterans Appreciation Trust (MVAT) began as a golf tournament he helped found with fellow members of the MountainGate Country Club to raise funds for veteran support. Don has worked tirelessly for more than a decade to make the organization successful, raising millions of dollars to benefit military members and their families. In April 2021, The MVAT board of directors presented Don with its Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding service to veterans and those actively serving in the US Armed Forces. In the future, the award will be presented to individuals who continue his legacy of support for American patriots. Don is survived by his wife, Kathleen Jensen Schwarz, who he frequently referred to as "the love of his life." He is also survived by a brother, Robert Schwarz (Linda); two sons, Josh Schwarz (Guin) and Andrew Schwarz (Christina) and a step-son, Tawd Beckman (Trish Gilmore.) He had eight grandchildren, Justin Schwarz, Alex Schwarz, Megan Schwarz, Zachary Schwarz, Matthew Schwarz, Liam Beckman, Noah Schwarz and Penelope Schwarz. His late wife Susan Orr Beckman Schwarz died in 2018, and he was previously married to Carole Schwarz. He had a great love of golf, tennis, travel and food, as well as collecting Military, Western and Americana memorabilia. Most important, he shared his love and generosity with his family and many friends. Services for Donald Leroy Schwarz are pending and will be announced. Contributions in memory of Don can be made to the MVAT Foundation at MVAT.org.