Joseph Schwartzman was the first of three deaths in Morningside Village this autumn. He was one of the village’s first senior members, and his volunteer team served him until the day he died, peacefully in his own home as he had wanted it.
Joe had become a friend to volunteers Tom McGovern, Erin Broad, to me and others during an over two year period when we learned so much about him. He’d been a dedicated soldier in World War II, serving in Italy in 1944, with dozens of fascinating stories, some told with good humor. He remembers a day in the trenches, German planes swooping down from above, hollering to a comrade, “I don’t believe in God, but I sure hope he believes in me today!”
After the war, Joe went to college, became an architect and was involved in a number of innovative projects, like designing New York’s first combination fire house-police station on West 100th Street, which is still in service, and on a team that helped build the World Trade Towers. He also was an artist in his way with only six well rendered paintings to his name, having to do with his war experience.
Joe was a voracious reader, and in his beautiful speaking voice, loved to talk about history, the world, and philosophical issues with his visitors. We wish some of those conversation could have been tape recorded, but those of us who knew him will continue to remember his words, his kindness and that glint in his eye. He is survived by his dear Ava, who is now a Morningside Village volunteer!
Irene Zola
