Deanne Schwartz Obituary

Schwartz, Deanne

Deanne Schwartz (nee Brill), 84, of Riverside, CA for 36 years, passed away June 13, 2021 after suffering a massive stroke in mid-April. Deanne fought valiantly before losing her battle at a long-term acute care facility in Ontario, CA. Deanne was born on January 12, 1937 in Chicago, where she lived on the North Side with her parents, Alec and Dorothy, and her older sister, Sharon. Dee attended elementary and high school before choosing to start a family while still a teenager. She lived in Mexico briefly with her first husband and gave birth to a son, Daniel, now 68. Dee raised Danny in Chicago with her parents, then moved to Queens, NY, in the 1960s, with her second husband, the late Len Chapman, a recording executive. Deanne Chapman worked in many administrative positions, including screening applicants at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Manhattan. The moment Dee met Michael Schwartz at an Upper East Side New Years Eve party in 1971, the two became inseparable. Mike affectionately called her "Monkey" or "Potato Person" AKA "Pote" – terms of endearment that stuck for life. Despite full-time positions, Dee earned a 1973 Associate in Arts degree from the University of the State of New York. She remained at the medical school until 1975 while Mike earned a health care MBA and worked as a hospital project manager. The couple married the following year just before embarking on adventures to South Jersey and Philadelphia. Over next seven years, they worked in admin, marketing, editing and writing positions. The happy duo came to Riverside, CA in 1985 when Mike became a medical journalist at the Press-Enterprise. Meanwhile, Dee soon proved herself a high-earning salesperson at Lamps Plus and founded the Sirens, a popular ladies' luncheon club. Deanne Schwartz was a woman of many "pet" causes and passions: She loved animals and served for several years as a volunteer docent at the Philadelphia Zoo. She took groups on tours and also brought animals to nursing homes and schools. In addition, Dee supported numerous causes, donating thousands each year to pro-Israel groups, wounded war veterans, cancer treatment programs and needy retirees. She also handed out money and food boxes to street people. Dee didn't share Mike's interest in flying airplanes. Even so, she happily joined him and aviation friends on charity missions, including a 1996 flight to Mexicali to repair a Catholic orphanage. Deanne is survived by her loving husband, Michael; son Daniel G. Chapman, grandson Alec Chapman plus many cousins who include Steve and Gerri Lurya of Los Gatos; Alan and Debby Lurya of Irvine; Margo and Kathy Tuite of Chicago and David Seltzer of Atlanta. Lifelong buddies include zoo docent partner Lorrie Van Note in Collingswood, NJ and pen pal Jean Oesch Richardson in Holland, Michigan, friends since age 14. Dee was well-known for her infectious smile, loyalty, kindness and joke telling prowess. She will be sorely missed, especially by Michael who vows to find her – wherever she is – so they can continue their adventures forever. Bella-Felina, Dee's beloved kitty, cries for her return. Viewing will be on July 8, 2021 from 10 AM to 11:45 AM at the Thomas Miller Mortuary 1118 E. 6th Street, Corona, CA 92879. Graveside services will be at 12:45 PM at the Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518. Rabbi Shmuel Fuss, director of Riverside's Chabad Jewish Community Center, will officiate. Donations to the ASPCA in lieu of flowers would be appreciated.

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