Obituary of Gerald L. Schwartz

Gerald L. (Gerry) Schwartz, recently of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, died January 20, 2014 after a month-long illness. He was 93 years of age. Mr. Schwartz was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, lived in North Plainfield for 50 years, and moved to Basking Ridge in 1994. He graduated from North Plainfield High School in 1937 and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University in 1946. Mr. Schwartz enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. He served in the European Theatre in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class and was honorably discharged in 1946. After the War, Mr. Schwartz joined Vogue Cleaners, a family run business, with his brother and father. He and his brother sold the business in 1980 and Mr. Schwartz operated Money Tree Coupons in Westfield, New Jersey until he joined Valpak as an advertising consultant in 1996. Mr. Schwartz was a member of the Plainfield Lions Club for 38 years and served as its President in 1969-1970. He served on the North Plainfield Board of Education for 10 years and was its Vice President for three years. He also was President of the North Plainfield Memorial Library for four years and was a member of the Board of Directors and Vice President of Temple Sholom in Plainfield. Mr. Schwartz was predeceased by his brother, Herbert, in 1998 and his sister, Gladys Lavenhar, in 2006. He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Anita, his two children, Dale Hosfield of Cranbury, New Jersey and his son, Brian Schwartz of Basking Ridge, and three grandchildren. Funeral services will take place at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Boulevard, Watchung, New Jersey, on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 1:00 p.m., and interment will follow at the Hebrew Cemetery in South Plainfield, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, www.jfnnj.org.