By Jeff Lipton
Schwartz, who began her teaching career at Lawrence High School, remained active in art education well into her retirement. A docent at the Tucson Museum of Art, she also was an instructor at Pima Community College in Tucson. She inspired thousands of students of all ages throughout her career, and refined the talents of many artists, young and old, her family said.
A graduate of Pratt Institute and Queens College, Schwartz was a past president of the New York State Council of the Arts and a teacher-trainer for the Art Education Council. She was a member of the National League of American Pen Women, which holds both juried and judged art exhibits, as well as the "Yaya Artists," local professionals who are also grandmothers, each with a unique discipline. Their name is derived from the Towa Indians, who inhabited the Pecos pueblo in New Mexico. Schwartz's work has been displayed in shows from New York to Arizona, and she has received many honors.
Schwartz, who was the district coordinator of art education in the Lawrence Public Schools, pioneered innovative art programs to develop young talent. Then, after her retirement, she helped advance the careers of many artists in genres ranging from human anatomy to computer-generated art imaging.
She was known as an expert on American Indian artifacts and jewelry, having spent time on pueblos with many native artisans. She also served as arts and crafts supervisor at Coleman Country Day Camp in Merrick, and was an artist-in-residence at Camp Echo in Burlingham, N.Y. In addition, she taught art at the Brooklyn Hebrew Home For the Aged.
Described as "the world's best docent" by many local residents, Schwartz was "known for her optimistic spirit, her indefatigable energy, and her contagious love of the arts for all - whether campers or students, colleagues or cohorts, artists or professors," said her daughter Marla Coleman.
Schwartz's lectures were enhanced by an extensive collection of art slides, which is being donated, at her request, to the Tucson Museum of Art.
In recent years, the former Five Towner led friends on expeditions that varied from local elementary-school art shows to the barrios of Tucson to the newest street murals in the Southwest and Mexico.
At a funeral service held at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels in Hewlett last Friday afternoon, Schwartz's daughter Siri Mills said that when her mother "walked into a room, the place lit up." She described her as possessing a "gentle but powerful spirit. She lovingly shared her knowledge and great gifts. My mom was the most talented person I'd ever met."
Schwartz's grandsons, Jordan and Ross, who also spoke at the service, said their grandmother had so much energy that it was hard to keep up with her. Marla Coleman said, "She was the leader of the band, a jazz band, that is, and improvised traditional themes and pushed them to their limits. She touched so many people with her skill, her enterprise and her originality."
"Her contributions were enormous and her passions were contagious," Coleman added. "As a mother, she was always a coach, a cheerleader and a role model. She taught us all leadership skills."
Schwartz, the daughter of a watchmaker and a dressmaker, was born in Brooklyn. She attended Girls Commercial High School, a prestigious school for talented artists, and during World War II was an artist for Conde-Nast Publications, which published Vogue. Her war-time illustrations were well-known. She would go to the Stagedoor Canteen in Manhattan during the war and draw portraits of soldiers and sailors for them.
Finally graduating from college on the same day as Coleman, her eldest daughter, Schwartz began a career in education in the late 1960s that included 25 years in the Lawrence school district. She earned her master's degree at Queens College as well as a supervisory certificate, and she continued a prolific career as an artist.
Schwartz is survived by her husband of 59 years, Solomon; her daughters, Coleman and her husband, George, of Long Beach, and Mills, of Munich, Germany; a sister, Florence Solnick, of Lynbrook; a brother, Herbert Gopstein; and three grandchildren, Jordan Coleman and his wife, Jessica, of Long Beach, Ross Coleman, and Alexandra Beierlein.
Following the funeral services, burial took place at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont.
An art campership fund for talented and underserved youngsters has been established in Schwartz's memory by the American Camp Association in Martinsville, Ind. Tributes to the Sylvia Schwartz Memorial Fund may be sent to: American Camp Association, c/o art campership memorial fund, 5000 State Road 67, North Martinsville, Ind. 46151-7902.
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
