Mary Schwartz

SCHWARTZ, MARY (BLUM), 95, passed away Saturday November 14, 2015. She was the wife of the late Herman Schwartz. She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, a daughter of the late Edward and Lena (Boda) Blum. She graduated from Fairhaven High and SMU, which is now UMASS Dartmouth. She was a librarian and book reviewer at the Fairhaven Millicent Library and St. Louis, MO. She was a freelance writer for the Standard Times from1958-2015, the Dartmouth Chronicle, and the Fairhaven Star. She was on the Board of Directors for the Lewin Scholarship Foundation and the Interfaith Scholarship Foundation, on the Board of Directors and honorary member for the United Way; chair on the New Bedford Council for the Arts; a co-chair on the local committee for the Kennedy Center for the Arts; Vice President, secretary, and on the Board of Directors for the New Bedford Concert Series; chair of the League of Women Voters; President of the YWCA Investment Club; President of the Women’s Golf Association Allendale Country Club; and member of the St. Luke’s Auxiliary. She was President and on the National Board of the National Council of Jewish Women, and received the Hannah G. Solomon Award for Devoted Services. She was President and on the Board of Directors for the New Bedford Jewish Federation; Vice President and lifelong member of Hadassah; chair on the Holocaust Committee for the Jewish Federation; a member of Tifereth Israel; and on the Board at the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home. She visited 23 countries and wrote about many of them. She is survived by her son Daniel (Joyce) of New Bedford; daughter Jessica of Waltham; granddaughter Rebecca of New Bedford; step-granddaughter Nicole Montague of New Bedford; dear friend Stanley (Si) Goldstein; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 16th at 1PM at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 145 Brownell Ave, New Bedford with burial in Plainville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Tifereth Israel Synagogue for the Joseph Blum and Mary Blum Schwartz Fund. Shiva will be held at her late residence Monday 7-9pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 2-4PM and 7-9PM.