Martin Stanley Schwartz

Martin Stanley Schwartz, beloved husband of almost 61 years to Mere Gurson Schwartz, died on July 9, 2022 after complications from a fall on June 10, 2022. He was buried at the Wellwood Cemetery on Long Island, July 12, 2022. He had Military Honors with the US Flag presented to Mere. They met on Yom Kippur 1955 in Clarksburg, West Virginia after Mere stood to say Kaddish for her father Samuel Gurson, who had died that April. He told his friend sitting next to him “That is the girl I will marry”. Six years later, after graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan College, they were married August 6, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York. On August 26, 1961, Martin’s birthday, President Kennedy sent him a letter to report on October 1 to Fort Hamilton, in Brooklyn, because his reserve unit was activated when the Berlin Wall went up. Their first year, Martin was in Fort Bragg, NC and Mere was in Freeport, NY and teaching in Wantagh, Long Island, NY. In recent years, Martin has worn his Army hat proudly and recognized by many. It was placed in his coffin.

After their son Sam was born in August 1962, the family moved to Dayton, Ohio. Martin began his 50 years in construction and Mere continued her career in education with a Master’s in Education from Wright State. His first project was developing the first Black subdivision in the USA in 1962. In the 70’s, he branched into waste water and sewage treatment plants. In 1979, the family left Dayton and lived in West Bloomfield, Michigan, Indianapolis before coming to Jacksonville in 1985. Martin returned to Michigan to work for MKK Technology, a Japanese company, for 9 years. After a stroke at 59, he returned to Jacksonville in 1996 and worked for Summit Contractors before retiring at 67 in 2004. In 2001, he became a hospital chaplain visiting Jewish hospital patients and becoming known for his great stories. He was honored in 2003 as Volunteer of Year by Jewish Family Services. He is instrumental in building two synagogues, Sons of Young Israel in Dayton and Etz Chaim in Jacksonville. In his retirement, he joined The Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Union Army because Mere was involved in The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Union Army. In 2014, Martin gave the Invocation on Memorial Day at Andersonville, GA. For many years, they would represent SAR and DAR in the Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade. In 2012, President Obama recognized the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War by calling on the states to honor all who were involved. Martin received a pin and letter signed by President Obama. Then April 1, 2016, Martin was recognized by Governor Rick Scott with a medal and certificate for the Vietnam Veterans Days. In 2018, he broke his back and was unable to participate in many activities.

Martin was born in Brooklyn to the late Paul and Ida Schwartz on August 26, 1937. His older sister, Doris Arenaro, died in 1984. He is survived by his younger brother, Dr William Schwartz and his wife Debbie.

Martin is survived by his wife Mere and their three children, Samuel and his wife Alisa, Laura and her husband Anthony, and Joshua and his wife Lauri. In addition, he is survived by his grandchildren Sarah, Zachary, Jacob, Kayla, Michael, Andrew, Ilana and two nieces Stacey and Jamina.

With profound sorrow, we regret to inform you of the passing of Martin Schwartz.

We send our profound condolences to his wife, Mere, and to his children Samuel, Laura and Joshua.

Martin's levaya will be held, Tuesday at 11am at the Wellwood Cemetery in New York.

Mere will be available for Shiva on Thursday, July 14, Friday, July 15 and Sunday, July 17, all day from 9am at her home in Jacksonville, Florida

Mincha followed by Maariv is scheduled for 6:40pm at her home.

May the Al-Mighty comfort the family among the other

mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgmandarin.com for the Schwartz family.