Jane Sherwin Schwartz, Ph. D., 81, formerly of Cedar Falls, died Sunday, August 11, 2002, in Inverness, Illinois, of natural causes. Dr. Schwartz was born on February 19, 1921, daughter of Herbert and Florence Sikes Sherwin. She married Ralph J. Schwartz on October 29, 1966, in Cedar Falls. He died June 23, 2000.
Dr. Schwartz earned a B A. at Rockford (Ill.) College, an M. A. at Middlebury (Vermont) College, and a Ph. D. in comparative literature from the University of Michigan. Other academic studies included the Sorbonne University and a Fulbright Grant to France in 1964. She served in the U. S. Army for three years teaching English to French air force personnel, taught French and Spanish in various secondary schools, and taught French at Elmhurst (Ill.) College prior to coming to the University of Northern Iowa in 1962 as an assistant professor of French in the Modern Languages Department. She was promoted to full professor in 1972 and retired in 1991.
Dr. Schwartz and her husband traveled extensively in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Australia, Tasmania, Europe, and Asia. Their love of the environment, health care, education, human rights, and the fine arts grew throughout those years. The Schwartzes expressed their appreciation by endowing a number of worthy causes.
Due to the support of Dr. Schwartz, the UNI Opera Program has been able to launch exciting productions, adding considerable value to the educational experiences of university students who will continue to benefit in the future from her generosity through the Ralph and Jane Schwartz Opera Endowment Fund. Dr. Schwartz had a passion for excellence in opera and was able to experience the most recent success of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" production. She was keenly aware that the UNI Opera Program will continue to flourish due to her support of the art form, and the UNI School of Music will miss her presence and encouragement at its events.
Survived by: a sister, Betsy Sherwin Ward (Dr. Gordon C.), Inverness, Illinois; two nephews, Douglas of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, and Robert (Ruth) of Arlington Heights, Illinois; and two great-nephews, Jason of DeKalb, Illinois, and Matthew of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Arrangements: private services were held. Memorials: may be directed to the UNI Foundation for the Ralph and Jane Schwartz Opera Endowment Fund or the Jane Sherwin Schwartz Modern Language Scholarship Endowment Fund.
Copyright Waterloo Courier, August 14, 2002, page B2.