Neil Sheldon Schwartz

Neil was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 27, 1932 and passed away in Mableton, Georgia on December 30, 2021. He was the only child of Shirley Weiss Schwartz and William Kalman Schwartz. He grew up in a play pen in his father’s menswear store in Cleveland, Bill Schwartz’s Menswear. His father schooled him in the art of fine men’s clothing, how to dress windows and generally become a very good salesman. Over the years in Cleveland, he was an entrepreneur in many facets. He moved to Dallas, Texas in the mid-60’s and went into the helium gas and balloon business with a partner. Then he became a concessionaire in amusement parks along the east coast and ultimately moved to the Atlanta area in 1974 and was the owner of Balloon Innovations, Inc. for many years. He became well known for successfully releasing balloons during halftime shows of professional football and baseball games, hotel openings, large parties and the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York. He was a 65-year Mason, a member of Fulton Lodge #216 F. & A. M. and the Past Master of Mableton Lodge #171 F. & A. M. as well as a member of the Scottish Rite. He was on the Board of Directors of Family Life Restoration Center in Mableton, Georgia. He has two children and is survived by his best friend and companion, Ms. Gregg Shafer.