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Donald L. Schwartz

Donald Schwartz Obituary

Donald L. Schwartz

AGE: 73 • Dover

Donald L. Schwartz, 73, a lifelong Dover resident, passed away on Monday, December 9, 2013 at Overlook Medical Center, Summit after a short illness.

Mr. Schwartz worked at Picatinny Arsenal in Numerical Control, retiring after 40 years of service. He was a peacetime Navy veteran serving 1958 - 1962.

Don was a coach for Dover Little League Baseball and umpired middle school and high school softball, baseball, soccer and basketball throughout Morris County.

He was an active member and former Captain and Lieutenant of the Dover Fire Department Hook and Ladder Co. for 50 years. Don was also a member of the Dover and NJ State Exempt Association as well as the American Legion Post 27 of Dover, the Acacia Lodge #20, F&AM of Dover, the NRA, the Shongum Gun Club and the Picatinny Rod and Gun Club.

Predeceased by his parents, Michael and Ruth and his sister, Dorothy Scott.

Survived by his wife of 51 years, Catherine (nee Milazzo), Three daughters; Dawn Berta and husband Phillip, Dorene Zacher and husband Michael, Danielle Schwartz Tsao and husband Jim. Two beloved grandsons: Maxwell Zacher and Ryan Berta. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Donald was a very giving, funny and loyal family man and friend.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Bermingham Funeral Home on Thursday, December 12 from 3-5 and 7-9pm to honor Donald's life. Services will be held on Friday 10am at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Locust Hill Cemetery, Dover. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Autism Speaks, 1060 State Road, 2nd Floor, Princeton, NJ 08540. Offer condolences at www.BerminghamFH.com.

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

Published by Daily Record from Dec. 11 to Dec. 12, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Schwartz

234 Entries

December 7, 2023

Can not believe it will be 10 years since you left. Still feels like yesterday. Miss you just the same. U can come visit anytime. Love you always. Dawn

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Your Daughter Dawn

December 5, 2022

Just thinking of you and missing you here. You were the best!! Love you always. Happy Holidays .... Sad without you though. Love Dawn

Dawn

December 5, 2021

Dawn

December 5, 2021

Dawn

December 5, 2021

Almost 8 years Dad. Seems like yesterday. Miss you more than is describable. Keep watch over us like always. We watch over each other like you taught us. Such a great Dad

May 25, 2021

Thinking of you Dad. Miss you more than you can imagine. Love you always. And Thank you...

Dorene Zacher

Planted Trees

Kay Schwartz

December 8, 2019

Don its been six long years since youve gone and you are missed every minute of every day. Everything in our home reminds me of all the wonderful years we had with each other and our three beautiful girls. Your grandsons are no longer little boys they are tall good looking teenagers. You are missed by all. We had 51 wonderful years together and you did teach me some of your tricks on fixing things when they break or fall apart. Until we see each other again just know that I love you and miss you with all my heart.

Dawn Berta

December 8, 2019

Hi Dad
Just wanted to tell you that Im missing you and I cant believe it will be 6 years. I know you see everything so once in a while tap your Grandsons on the butt when they need it and give them a hug when u all need it. Hey I have a lot of Christmas lights not working. Im gonna leave them in your workshop. Can you give them a look over! Love u always. Dawn

P.S. Mom is great! Keep watching over her like I know you are.

Dorene Zacher

December 7, 2019

Dad it does not get easier. I miss everything about you. Thank you for being my dad!

December 9, 2014

Lit a year to the day by all of us. We love you..
Kay, Dawn, Dorene, Danielle, Phill, Mike, Jim, Max, and Ryan

Dorene Zacher

December 9, 2014

Dad,
It has been one year today. One year ago your family and friends said good bye. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you. However, I know you are watching over us from heaven and fixing everything that is broken there.

Your three daughters are the women that we are because you played a major role in our lives. You placed our needs first..... always.

Your wife, she is a strong woman because you loved her.

Your best friends in the world, Max and Ryan they just make strides each and every day to make you proud.

I love you dad. If I can ask just one thing from you, just give mom a sign, one that she can not rationalize one that blatantly states Donald was here and will always be with her.

And if you want, and it is not asking too much, allow me to win the lottery and never worry about money again. I will accept that too.

I love you my hero, my mentor my daddy.

Kay

December 8, 2014

Don,
It has been one year since I said good bye to you, and I still feel empty inside. You were, and always will be my best friend, my husband, the best father, grandfather, handyman, and friend to all. Our daughters have been my rock to get me through the days and nights without you. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of you and the years that we shared as husband and wife. I love you always. Until we meet again, you will always be in my thoughts, my memories, and my heart. I love you today, tomorrow and forever. From..........
The girl that was hit with your love..........
Kay

Dawn

December 8, 2014

Hi Dad
It has been
1 year
12 months
365 days
8760 hours
525,600 minutes
and 31,536,000 seconds
That is how long you have been gone.
It seems like a little amount of time when it is in writing, but it feels like a lifetime. I miss you and always will. You were the best Dad ever and have left a loving scar on my heart. Some days it hurts and other days it is warm with memories and laughter. I will miss you everyday and always think WWDD in a situation. What would Dad do?? Hugs and kisses sent right from 43 Sammis Ave where you grew up to the Donald Schwartz cloud. I am sure it is the best floater up there. Miss you and love you always. Keep a close eye on the boys, I am sure they wonder where you are and I know they miss you. Until we see each other again...You are always in my heart and thoughts. I love you and miss you.

December 7, 2014

We can't eat it????

December 7, 2014

My hero, my coach, my fishing buddy, my dad

Dorene Zacher

December 7, 2014

Dad this is what I wrote about you at your funeral almost one year ago.I love you and miss you with all of my heart and soul.

Who was Donald Schwartz? He was a loving husband, devoted father, amazing grandfather, compassionate uncle, best friend and overall my hero.

When I think back at my childhood it always seems to be center around my family. My mom and dad made sure that Dawn, Danielle and myself always knew that we were loved and supported. My dad always went out of his way to satisfy our dreams.

When I was little I told my dad I wanted to play softball. He was thrilled. You see, I was the boy he never had. Immediately we jumped in the truck and he bought me my first mit. Of course I thought I was going to be able to use it that day, but NOOOOO he took it home, greased it up, put a softball in it wrapped it with elastic bands and walked away. I had no idea why he did this but he was dad he knew best. Finally the day came that my dad was going to teach me how to play softball. We drove to Creasant Field to play catch. I thought that we would start off easy. A little catch maybe a little hitting. But nooooo my dad had different plans. I was standing in the short stop position and thought ok he will lightly hit the softball to me. Before I knew it a baseball came flying at my head, I ducked and asked him what he was doing. He said to me, “Dorene if you can stop a baseball you can stop anything. That afternoon I came home bloody, bruised and exhausted but to this day I can stop any ball that is hit to me.

A year later I told my dad that I wanted to go fishing. Once again my dad was thrilled. We jumped in the truck and he bought me waiters up to here, a fishing pole and a life jacket. Every night my dad and I would go in the back yard and I would cast my line with a nut on the end trying to hit a garbage can lid. I needed to hit the lid 10xs before I could go in. The night before opening season there was a horrific rain story. Fishing started at 8 am but my dad and I left at 4:30 am. The entire ride to Picatinny I kept thinking that I did not want to do this and I wanted to go home. Because of the rain Polson's Pond where my dad and I fished was flooded. My dad was not going to deny me my first fishing experience. He found this huge oil tin this high and dragged it into the deep water. I was trying to walk out of the truck like a mummy. My mom had about 30 layers of clothes on me; I had chest waiters on a life jacket and gloves. My dad picked me up and carried me to the oil tin. He said to me don't fall off and walked away to get the fishing poles. For three hours I sat on that oil can scared to death. I was afraid that I was going to fall in and drown and afraid to throw my line in the water. I remember someone screamed ok 8 o'clock and fishing lines were being thrown in all directions. On my third cast I caught a fish. My dad dove in the water like an Olympic swimmer to make sure I did not lose my fish. He was so proud. Every year since that tender age my dad and I have always attended fishing opening season together.
So dad if you are listening thank you for teaching me never to take the easy way out. I bet you a dollar to a donut that one day we will fish again.

I love you daddy today, tomorrow and forever...... Dorene

Danielle Schwartz

December 7, 2014

Hi dad. Miss you so much. One year! My god. And yet I still can't believe you are gone. Love you so much!

Also, when giving the sign to mom, nothing cute. You know her better than all of us. You need to be literal. "Damn it Kay...this is your sign!"