Dr. Barry Schwartz

A native of Philadelphia, PA, Barry was the son of the late Albert Schwartz and Ann Pogach Schwartz. He was a celebrated sociologist with a BS from Temple University, an MA from University of Maryland, and a PhD from University of Pennsylvania.

Barry was a professor at the University of Chicago from 1970-1977 and the University of Georgia from 1977 until his retirement in 2000. To honor his distinguished career, UGA named him professor emeritus of sociology. During his career, Barry was a fellow at the UGA Institute for Behavioral Research and UGA Humanities Center, the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral and Social Sciences at Stanford, the National Humanities Center in Research Triangle, NC, the Smithsonian Museum of National History in Washington, DC, and a Davis Fellow at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the William A. Owens award for Outstanding Research and Creativity in 2000. In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate from Hebrew University.

Barry was considered an expert in collective memory. He was the author of numerous books, chapters, articles, reviews, and essays. He continued to publish and work with his colleagues until the end of his life.

Barry met his wife of 58 years on the boardwalk of Atlantic City, shortly after completing his service in the US Army. Together, they supported each other and built a joyful life and family.

An avid baseball fan whose enthusiasm for the sport goes back to the Philadelphia Athletics, Barry imparted his love of baseball to his grandchildren through frequent games of catch. Known for his good humor and quick with a joke, he enjoyed laughing and making others laugh. He was extraordinarily kind, generous, and modest. A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Barry was a true role model who will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Janet Faye Cline Schwartz of Athens; children, Harald “Hal” Schwartz and his wife Jodi of Gaithersburg, MD, and Sarah Schwartz of Smyrna; grandsons, Aaron and Ian Schwartz and Heath and Asa Schwartz.

Funeral services will be held at the Bernstein Funeral Home on Wednesday, January 13. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM, and the service will start at 2:00 PM. Rabbi Ronald Gerson will officiate. Entombment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.