Joseph Raymond Schwartz

Joseph R. Schwartz Jr., of Arlington, Virginia, passed peacefully at home, with his wife, Liddy, and son, Joe, by his side. He was a dedicated family man, Navy officer, engineer, artist and innovative handyman with a comedic wit and warm smile. Born to Elizabeth (Inskeep) and Joseph R. Schwartz, Sr., he was raised in Glendale, Ohio just north of Cincinnati in a house built by his father and uncles. They tended a small farm where he learned to ride, and from where he and his sister, Mary Lou, walked to school at St. Gabriel’s. Large sport-filled Schwartz family gatherings were common.

At the age of nine, his father’s job was relocated to Brazil and the family set sail from New York. A hurricane en route secured his love of the sea, and their arrival in São Paulo secured such a love for the country that he would speak Portuguese for the rest of his life. Sunday drives to the countryside and Santos beach were documented on canvas by this burgeoning painter, and his Cousin Gene’s warship visit sparked an interest in the Navy. The family returned to Fort Lauderdale when Joe was 15, where he continued high school at Central Catholic with his cousin, Rosemary, enjoying music and drama set design.

Accepted to Notre Dame in 1957, Joe made fast friends at Zahm Hall where they routinely “entertained” their rector, Fr. Fryberger, with all sorts of good clean antics. Six days of class per week, Navy ROTC, and drumming for the Marching Band kept him out of too much trouble. Upon graduation in 1961 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, he reported to his first ship. In less than two years, Joe would be Executive Officer of the LST USS Churchill County, under Capt Jim Rowsey, a lifelong friend. Sea stories a plenty, he survived a brief swim with hammerheads off Panama, and his ship executed a South Pacific Island evacuation for possibly the largest nuclear test detonation in history.

Joe left the Navy in 1967 to pursue a job working Navy contracts for Bird Engineering in Virginia and bought himself a few essentials: a Hobie Cat and a Porsche. His by-hand artistic talents recognized at work, he would produce aviation paintings that still hang at the Pentagon. He met Elizabeth Nash when she was working on the Hill and living in DC with her sister Mary and friends. This new tight-knit band of pals explored the Eastern shore by car and Chesapeake by sail, usually staying upright and out of thunderstorms, but not always.

Joe and Liddy were married in 1977 by Liddy’s brother, Fr. Joe Nash, at Holy Trinity in Georgetown and bought a house in North Arlington, where they raised their son amidst the fellowship and festivity of wonderful neighborhood friends. Joe invested in his family, both in sports and scouting with his son, as well as annual trips out west or to the beach with the Nash clan. He often painted for charity auction. In 1999, he joined Boeing’s National Missile Defense team, and later fulfilled a lifelong aviation dream as an engineer on the 787 Dreamliner in Everett, WA.

Retirement brought more world travel with Liddy, air shows around the country with Joseph, and time with his grandchildren, entertaining them with magic shows and teaching them watercolor, piano and snare drum. He chased his son down the slopes well into his 80th year, keeping ski patrol busy from Breckenridge to Durango. Joe committed himself to our local chapel, Missionhurst, where he served in the sacristy at daily Mass for years, usually staying on to chat with great friends. Fr. Bill Wyndaele, one of many priests close to the family, provided a comforting voice of exceptional reason and faith during Joe’s last rights.

Joe was exacting and precise with hobbies and work, a perfectionist at heart with an artist’s hand. He carried himself as Navy officer and a gentleman, was known for his warmth and sense of humor, and would converse with everyone, everywhere, regardless of station or title. He lived the motto “God, Country, Notre Dame,” maintained a strong devotion to our Blessed Mother, adored his wife, loved his family, and was an esteemed member of the ND Alumni Band of DC, in which he was honored to serve as drummer for 35 years, and eventually as its President. He was happiest on a ship, around aircraft or on skis, and he was never far from a paint brush, drumstick or harmonica. He tapped out drum rhythms with his fingers until his last day.

Joe is survived by his wife Elizabeth of 44 years, his son Joseph (Susan), three grandsons (Joey, Declan and Wyatt), his sister Mary Lou (Jerry Schirtzinger), niece Erin and nephew Steven, as well as his brother-in-law, Fr. Joe Nash; sisters-in-law, Mary Kelly and Neva Nash; nieces Heather (Jim Dountas), Meghan (Brian Cannavan) and Annie Kelly; grandnephews Ruben KellyYsasi and Colin Cannavan; grandnieces Alexandra and Nicolia Dountas, Kiera Cannavan, and Keri and Brittany Schirtzinger. He is predeceased by his siblings-in-law Edward Nash and Maureen Nash.

There are two planned events for remembering Joe: his Funeral Mass and Burial with Military Honors at the University of Notre Dame on Friday, August 13, 2021, and at a future date, a memorial Mass at Missionhurst in Arlington, Virginia.