Albert J. Schwartz Sr., 97, of Salina, died Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at 630 E. Iron Ave. in Salina, in the house in which he was born on Aug. 10, 1915. He married Mary Anne Jameson in 1940, and they had nine children. After her death in 1999, he married Dorothy Smith in 2001. She died in 2006.
He loved his family, his church, his city, his state and his country. He was proud of his Irish/German heritage and of his children and many nieces and nephews and their families.
Albert was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, a Knight of St. Gregory and active in fund drives for his parish, for Marymount College and St. John’s Hospital. He was president of the Salina Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Salina Community Inn, and many boards and commissions working to make Salina a better place to live. He was a member of the board of directors of Sunflower Bank, Kansas Power and Light Company, the State Chamber of Commerce, the Hardware Golf Association, the Highway Advisory Commission, and other local, state, and national organizations.
He was a 1933 graduate of Sacred Heart High School and a 1937 graduate of the University of Notre Dame. While at Notre Dame, he earned a varsity letter as the manager of the Fighting Irish football team. An avid sports fan, he was always at his children’s and grandchildren’s athletic events.
He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He was president of the Lee Hardware Company (and later the Lee Company) from 1955 until the present.
The Schwartz house always seemed to have an international flavor. There were guests from Slovenia, Africa, Peru, Chile, Ireland, Vietnam and Mexico staying for short or long periods of time.
When Albert was in his 80s, he became involved in Meals on Wheels, Hospice of Salina and RSVP. Al Schwartz always wanted to say “Yes” to whoever asked for his advice or assistance. He always tried to say “Yes” to life.
He is survived by seven children, Jamie (Dianne), of Lawrence, John (Linda), of Portland, Ore., Peggy Wallert, of Baldwin City, A.J. (Jane), of Wichita, Norb (Michele), of Salina, Mary (Joe) Boman, of Bonner Springs, and Ettie (Cary) Brightwell, of Overland Park; and 14 grandchildren. Two children, Mary Jameson and Fred, preceded him in death.
The family will hold a wake from 3-8 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at 630 E. Iron Ave. There will be a Mass in celebration of Albert’s life at 10 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2013, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, with burial to follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Cottonwood (services for persons with developmental disabilities), Lawrence, or Sacred Heart Junior-Senior High School. Ryan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.