Irving Schwartz
Born In: New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: SYDNEY, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: September 18th, 2010
Irving Schwartz, O.C., entrepreneur, humanitarian, community leader, devoted son of New Waterford, C.B., and a leading figure in Atlantic Canada's Jewish community, died Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, in Sydney. He was 81.
Irving was the son of the late Abraham and Rose (Claener) Schwartz of New Waterford.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Diana Usher Schwartz; and his four children, Margo Schwartz (Adrian Noskwith), London, Eng., Joanne Schwartz, Toronto, David Schwartz, Halifax, and Stephanie Schwartz (Brian Brophey), Toronto. He had four grandchildren, Toby and Rose Noskwith of London, Eng., and Rachel and Sophie Fagan of Toronto; five siblings, Ruth Goldbloom of Halifax, Harold Schwartz of Sydney, and the late Joey, Bram and Edna Schwartz; and many nieces and nephews.
Irving's parents operated a general store in the coal mining town of New Waterford. Abraham Schwartz died one day before Irving's third birthday, leaving Rose to run the business and raise six children. She was more than up to the task, and although Irving spent one semester at Mount Allison University and another at New York University, he often said he was a graduate of the Rose Schwartz School of Business. Irving made his first of many buying trips to Montreal at age 13.
Over the years, Irving owned or invested in a diverse range of businesses, including a hotel, nursing homes, a cable TV franchise, computer software companies, a clinical research company, a wireless Internet service provider, various real estate holdings, a coal mine reclamation company, and the furniture and appliance store that bears his name.
At the time of his death, he was president of the Seaside Group of companies, with operations in cable TV, wireless Internet, software development, and clinical research. He was also chairman of Schwartz and Company, the furniture chain, and president of Vulcan holdings, a real estate company. He was a current or past director of Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd., Virtual Media Productions, Halifax Biomedical, and Green Images.
In 1970, Irving helped develop an oyster farm at the Eskasoni First Nation, and four years later, he managed a trout farm for the Cape Breton Development Corporation.
Irving was a pioneer in the expansion of high speed internet services to rural areas. He led Seaside's participation in the ambitious project to provide high-speed Internet access throughout Nova Scotia - the first jurisdiction in North America to offer universal broadband access. Seaside will complete its part of the project, covering the nine counties of northern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, by year's end.
Irving also served as president of the Children's Aid Society, president of the Lions' Club, chairman of the board of governors of the University College of Cape Breton, co-founder of Junior Achievement in Cape Breton, director of the National Theatre School of Canada, advisory board member of the Dalhousie School of Business, and chairman of the Cape Breton Chapter of the Hebrew University. He was a longtime member of the National Capital Commission, and volunteered with the Nova Scotia Division of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. He served on the boards of the Nova Scotia Business Development Corporation, the Sydport International Free Trade Zone, and the Nova Scotia Community College.
Of all these volunteer activities, he was perhaps proudest of his 12 years service as a volunteer firefighter in New Waterford.
Irving founded and operated the non-profit Canadian International Demining Corps, which carried out land mine removal operations in many countries around the world, and was part of the impetus for his 1997 investiture in the Order of Canada. In 2003, he was named an officer of the order.
At the time of his initial investiture, Governor-General Romeo LeBlanc cited him as, "a staunch supporter of educational institutions, notably the University College of Cape Breton, Dalhousie University's School of Business, and the National Theatre School of Canada ... He is dedicated to the eradication of the use of land mines and the reclamation of mine-polluted land for productive use by indigenous populations," the citation said.
When Irving was named an officer of the order six years later, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson described him as, "a visionary entrepreneur and committed philanthropist (who) has made significant contributions to Cape Breton. Irving Schwartz has invested resources, time and expertise in local knowledge-based companies, helping to diversify and develop the island's economy."
In eastern Nova Scotia, Irving was well known for fronting television commercials for his furniture and appliance company, always ending with the tag line, "I guarantee it!"
Once, while travelling in Bosnia in support of demining operations there, he encountered a group of Canadian peacekeepers and asked if any were from Cape Breton.
"I guarantee it," one soldier replied.
In 2002, Irving was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, and the following year was inducted into the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame. He was also an inductee of the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame. At the time of his death, he had been designated to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Canadian Home Furnishings Association.
In 2008, he received the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from Dalhousie University.
Diagnosed with cancer in 2008, Irving managed to turn even that bad news into a positive achievement. He headed a successful $5.5 million fundraising campaign for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital's cancer unit. He declined suggestions that he seek treatment at prominent U.S. medical centres, insisting he would get better care in Cape Breton.
Through several operations and chemotherapy treatments, he continued to work full time, at one point returning to his office three days after surgery. He spent the day before his death working at the furniture store, and attended Yom Kippur services at the Temple Sons of Israel Synagogue in Sydney Friday evening.
In a statement Saturday, Premier Darrell Dexter said Irving's "legacy as a community leader and philanthropist will be the achievements for which he is most remembered."
Deputy Premier and fellow New Waterford native Frank Corbett said, "Cape Breton was very fortunate to have a leader like Irving Schwartz. His passion for life, family and community will be sorely missed."
Irving loved to engage friends and strangers alike in conversation and storytelling. The door to his office at the furniture store was always open, and saw a constant stream of visitors, from titans of industry and politics to coal miners, school teachers, and homemakers. He was known for quietly offering advice and assistance to scores of Cape Bretoners starting out in business or facing business difficulties.
His funeral will take place Monday at 11 a.m. at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, 50 Maillard St., Sydney, with burial to follow at the Hebrew Cemetery on Lingan Road.
No flowers, please. Memorials may be made to The Parkinson Society Maritime Region, 7071 Bayers Rd., Suite 150, Halifax, N.S., B3L 2C2, or to The Cape Breton Cares Campaign, Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation, 45 Weatherbee Rd., Suite 304A, Sydney, N.S., B1M 0A1.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca.
