Richard Abram Schwartz died peacefully at home in Three Rivers on Thursday, April 12, 2018 of complications from ALS. He was 83.
Richard is survived by his wife, Ilze Knezinskis Schwartz; children, Anna Schwartz (Eric Rubin), Katrina Schwartz and Mara (Schwartz) Kore (Erik Kore); brother, Robert Schwartz (Nancy Hoffman); and grandchildren, Amanda, David and Rebeka Kore and Lena and Maia Rubin.
Richard was born on January 19, 1935, in Boston, MA, to Earl and Ruth Schwartz. He graduated from Newton High School in 1953, Harvard College in 1957, and Tufts University School of Medicine in 1961. Ilze and Richard met in medical school, and married in 1960. He completed his psychiatric residency training at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center.
Richard served as a Public Health Officer in the US Army on Staten Island, NY, from 1965-1967. After completing his military service, he and Ilze moved to Cleveland, where they both practiced psychiatry, first at Fairhill Psychiatric Hospital, then at the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland. Richard also served on the psychiatry faculty at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
Richard was a devoted, loving and generous husband, father and grandfather. He and Ilze travelled widely, walked every day and loved the lake view at their home in rural Michigan. An avid and accomplished athlete, he played tennis and golf into his eighties. In retirement, he enjoyed reading about economics, politics and history, sampling Michigan micro-brews, and volunteering at the Latvian Center at Garezers.
A memorial service is scheduled for 3:00 pm on April 20, 2018, at A Place in Time in Three Rivers. Donations in Richard’s honor may be made to the ALS Association (www.alsa.org) or Latvian Center Garezers (www.garezers.org). The family would especially like to thank the staff at Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Online condolences may be shared at www.hohnerfh.com.