Thomas Schwartz Obituary

Thomas Schwartz died peacefully surrounded by his family on September 3, 2024. He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey on January 17, 1943. In 1964, Tom made the best decision of his life and married Ellana Shriber. Tom received his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 1969. That same year, they welcomed a daughter, Mary Ann. Their son Robert followed a few years later. They subsequently moved to Austin, where Tom became a tenured professor of government at the University of Texas, before moving to UCLA in 1987. Tom is survived by his wife, his sister Joan, two children, and four grandchildren: Rachel, Caroline, Connor, and Oliver.
For those who wish to donate in Tom's memory, please give to the Geffen Medical School's Medical Education fund at UCLA: https://bit.ly/ThomasSchwartz

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

Published by Los Angeles Times on Sep. 8, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Schwartz

3 Entries

Donn D. Lobdell

September 17, 2024

In my 87 years, I have known, perhaps, eight or nine persons that I regard as "larger than life." Tom was one of them and the one I knew best. Like most of them, he had, usually rightly, the courage of his convictions. His convictions were his own and sincerely held. With Tom, I had many interesting discussions on politics, history, political systems and decision systems.
Carole and I met Tom and Ellie, in the mid 1960´s when Ellie and Carole met through a Stanford Organization named Stanford Dames. A significant purpose of Stanford Dames was to provide a zero-cost babysitting cooperative for graduate students´ families. We found that the Schwartz family lived only a few blocks away from us. Thus, was born a mutual aid pact that involved closely aligned child transferring and food sharing. Each family prepared extra food on a schedule so that only one family cooked dinner on a given day but enough for both families. Several days a week Tom would be home in the mid -afternoon, Carole would drop off our meal contribution, leave our young son with Tom and Maryanne and go to her classes. A few hours later, I would retrieve our son. I found that Tom was a keen observer of how children learned and very patient with them.
We did lots of things with them, cooking special meals, trying restaurants - although not often on our limited resources. Then we moved to Denver and shortly after they moved to Pittsburgh, and we lost touch. A dozen years later, we saw an article in the NYT that identified Tom at that University of Texas, and we reconnected. Soon they moved to Los Angeles and a few years later we moved to Newport Beach. Too far apart to reestablish the Food Cooperative but close enough for many visits.
Tom had a generous spirit. I recall several occasions in which he opened a prized bottle of wine when I stated that I had never tasted that producer or that vintage. Likewise, he insisted on the best ingredients when he was either cooking or planning. However, he would not accede to an argument that was unconvincing to him. He had a high degree of intellectual honesty and looked for the same in others.
Without Tom, I don´t know where I will find such a willingness to discuss history, politics and current events with rancor-less vigor. I am sure that the world has contracted for all of his friends ad colleagues.
Donn D. Lobdell

Donn D. Lobdell

September 17, 2024

In my 87 years, I have known, perhaps, eight or nine persons that I regard as "larger than life." Tom was one of them and the one I knew best. Like most of them, he had, usually rightly, the courage of his convictions. His convictions were his own and sincerely held. With Tom, I had many interesting discussions on politics, history, political systems and decision systems.
Carole and I met Tom and Ellie, in the mid 1960´s when Ellie and Carole met through a Stanford Organization named Stanford Dames. A significant purpose of Stanford Dames was to provide a zero-cost babysitting cooperative for graduate students´ families. We found that the Schwart family lived only a few blocks away from us. Thus was born a mutual aid pact that involved closely aligned child transferring and food sharing. Each family prepared extra food on a schedule so that only one family cooked dinner on a given day but enough for both families. Several days a week Tom would be home in the mid -afternoon, Carole would drop off our meal contribution, leave our young son with Tom and Maryanne and go to her classes. A few hours later, I would retrieve our son. I found that Tom was a keen observer of how children learned and very patient with them.
We did lots of things with them, cooking special meals, trying restaurants - although not often on our limited resources. Then we moved to Denver and shortly after they moved to Pittsburgh, and we lost touch. A dozen years later, we saw an article in the NYT that identified Tom at that University of Texas and we reconnected. Soon they moved to Los Angeles and a few years later we moved to Newport Beach. Too far apart to reestablish the Food Cooperative but close enough for many visits.
Tom had a generous spirit. I recall several occasions in which he opened a prized bottle of wine when I stated that I had never tasted that producer or that vintage. Likewise, he insisted on the best ingredients when he was either cooking or planning. However, he would not accede to an argument that was unconvincing to him. He had a high degree of intellectual honesty and looked for the same in others.
Without Tom, I don´t know where I will find such a willingness to discuss history, politics and current events with rancor-less vigor. I am sure that the world has contracted for all of his friends ad colleagues.

Mary Anne Bland

September 17, 2024

How do you say goodbye to a very good friend?
My husband met Tom at Stanford in the early 70´s and we became friends. His wife Ellana organized wine tours and monthly international gourmet dinners. Tom particularly liked the roast goose with apple stuffing that i made.
The proverb "he who doesn´t love wine, women and song remains a fool his whole life long."
applied to Tom. He was a connoisseur of fine wines and food. Throughout the years we visited and tasted at many California wineries.
It was always a treat to discuss current issues and events with Tom. We didn´t often agree but i respected his opinions. His passing leaves a void in our lives. Tom was a brilliant man with many gifts and talents a good father and a compassionate friend.
Goodby dear friend.
Love, Mary Anne Bland

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