Eugene Perry Schwartz

Monday, February 11, 2019

Eugene Perry Schwartz, Greencastle, 85, son of Otto and Marian (Koleman) Schwartz, died on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 at Mill Pond Health Campus.

Born in Fremont, Ohio, on April 17, 1933, he attended public schools in that city.

He attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, under full scholarship and majored in chemistry and minored in physics and mathematics. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and various other honorary societies. He received outstanding sophomore and senior awards in chemistry. He was a member of Delta Tau Beta social fraternity.

Eugene received a Ph. D. in 1959 and continued post-graduate research in electrochemistry. He was in charge of a physical chemistry lab and lectured on various aspects throughout the year.

During 1960 in the midst of the Cold War, he was sent to the Soviet Union as a scientific and cultural exchange scholar where he did research at Moscow State University. The exchange program was initiated by President Eisenhower as a means to foster goodwill between the two countries. He was sent under the auspices of the State Department, Washington, D.C.

After his year abroad, Mr. Schwartz finished his past doctoral research, teaching and lecture duties and began teaching chemistry at DePauw University in the fall of 1962. For years he also taught courses in the Honors Program and summer programs.

His sabbatical leaves with the family were at the National Labs in Oak Ridge, Tenn., and in the chemistry department at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth, Wales, as well as, Duke University while living in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Eugene married Henrietta Link in December 1961. They have three children: Stephen, New Hampshire, David, Greencastle, and Katherine (James) Sickinger, Florida. The two grandchildren are Christina Sickinger, New York and Matthew Sickinger in North Carolina.

Eugene was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife and children and his brother, Larry (Karen) Schwartz, California; sister, Susannah Schmidt, Michigan, and cousin, Phillip Heckert of Florida.

A family funeral and burial was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, with Dr. Kelly McClendon presiding.

Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, was in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Summer Enrichment Program, c/o Gobin United Methodist Church, Greencastle, Indiana 46135.

A memorial service will be held in Greencastle at a later date.

Memories may be shared with the family at www.BittlesandHurt.com.