Obituary of Clifford Schwartz

Clifford H. Schwartz January 5, 1961-August 30, 2010 Clifford H. Schwartz 49 years old, lost his long, courageous and frustrating battle with head cancer on August 30, 2010. Until weeks before his death, he thought the disease was cured, but the cancer ran wild and won the war. Cliff was born January 5, 1961 in New York City to Martin and Sylvia Berger Schwartz. The family relocated to Rock Hill in 1962 where Marty set up his longstanding architectural practice and where his brother Steven was born in 1965. Cliff was educated in the Monticello School District and graduated co-valedictorian in 1979. He then went on to the University of Pennsylvania from where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA from the College of Arts & Sciences with major honors in Spanish and with a BS in Economics from the Wharton School with majors in Accounting and Economics. Cliff spent the next 21 years as an accountant in Manhattan. He earned his CPA in 1984. The highlight of his accounting career was his work with the American Institute of CPAs where he helped to develop and publish accounting standards for the real estate and computer software industries. His career also included such firms as MetLife, Touche Ross, Price Waterhouse, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers. As the Internet began to develop he took an interest in web design and enjoyed designing sites for small business. Cliff always maintained close ties with his family in Rock Hill. After his father's death in 2004, he moved back home to stay with his mother Sylvia, and brother Steve. This led to the most satisfying part of his career as he joined his brother full-time as webmaster of Steve's Music Center in Rock Hill. Cliff had a lifelong interest in American railroads, architecture and the preservation of important buildings, history and world events. He traveled to Spain and South America numerous times for business and pleasure. He was a licensed tour guide in New York City and loved sharing details about the City's architecture and history with his guests, family, and friends. It was natural when he returned home that he would focus on the preservation and beauty of his own community. He became increasingly concerned about plans for real estate development in the area that he felt was a threat to its beauty and integrity and was quite outspoken at Town meetings and greatly enjoyed the sense of participation and community that was offered to him in a small town setting. He became involved in the Rock Hill Business and Community Association where he served as Vice-President from 2009-2010. The sudden onset of cancer caught him by surprise and dashed his hopes of becoming a more mature and measured advocate of smart growth. Cliff is survived by loving and devoted mother, Sylvia, and loving brother, Steve, as well as Aunts, cousins and many dear friends, teachers and dedicated doctors and nurses. He was a kind and caring friend and was dearly loved by all who knew him. His winning smile and kindness will be greatly missed. Services will be held at the Rock Hill Volunteer Fire Department, 61 Glen Wild Road, off exit 109, on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 2:00pm and officiated by Rabbi Michelle Medwin and Cantor Michael Sturm. Internment will be held at the Temple Sholom Cemetery on South Woods Dr. in Monticello. Memorial Contributions may be made to: The Sullivan County Historical Society, 265 Main St. Hurleyville,NY 12747; Temple Sholom PO Box 664, Monticello, NY 12701; Rock Hill Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 116, Rock Hill, NY 12775; Or a charity of your choice. Shiva will be observed at the Schwartz home, 267 Rock Hill Dr. Rock Hill, NY on Sept. 2 and 3rd and Sunday September 5 from 2PM-8PM. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home.