Robert Simon Schwartz

Robert Simon Schwartz

Oct 28, 1941 - Dec 6, 2024

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Robert “Bob” Simon Schwartz died peacefully on December 6, 2024, at the age of 83.

Bob was born on October 28, 1941, in Yonkers, New York to Joseph and Miriam Schwartz. His family grew with the birth of his brother Tom in 1945 and his sister Wendy in 1947. He attended Saunders Trade School which he remembered affectionately with stories of hijinx that he and his classmates pulled off. He then attended the University of Cincinnati’s architecture program and later Harvard and MIT where he earned a masters degree in city planning. During his college career, he completed co-ops in San Francisco and London which may have inspired his love of travel.

He married Carol Dunholter after meeting her at an art happening organized by her brother Lee. They married at Cambridge City Hall in Massachusetts in 1967. After living in Boston and briefly in Israel, they settled in Washington D.C., where they eventually welcomed two daughters, Sarah and Joanna, into their family. Bob was passionate about bringing his extended family together each Thanksgiving for yearly traditions that included making challah and chopped liver which was molded into the likeness of whoever was unable to attend that year. 

Bob’s career accomplishments included creating his own architectural firm in 1975, Robert Schwartz Associates which later became Schwartz and Peoples Architects. His projects ranged from small additions and remodels, pro bono projects such as La Clinica del Pueblo, and designing the Adat Shalom Synagogue. He was honored by the American Institute of Architects in 2005 with the Wieb Laureate Award which recognizes architects whose work positively impacts the community at large. One of his proudest achievements was designing a home with incredible wood craftsmanship in Bethesda, Maryland for himself and Carol in their later years. 

Bob had a passion for both travel and exercise which he combined for many an adventure. He visited a total of 26 different countries in his lifetime. He and his family walked across England on the Coast to Coast Walk and later hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. He traveled all over on ski adventures including a day of heli-skiing on the whim of a crazy ski bud. He very fondly remembered hiking trips to Bhutan and Patagonia with his brother Tom. And his love for running connected him to “the running buddies” who became an extension of his family and visited him frequently at the end of his life. In total, Bob completed 15 marathons and 10 triathlons and had drawers full of race t-shirts and medals to prove it. 

Bob and his wife, Carol, cherished their long-time friends who met regularly for a “No-Name Book Group.” Bob faithfully read each book choice and was known to offer his ideas and opinions in measured tones while always listening carefully to those presented by others.

In his retirement years, Bob continued his love for learning by enrolling in online college courses as well as becoming a docent for the National Building Museum in Washington DC. You could often find him reading the newspaper or a book in his craftsman recliner chair or out walking the neighborhood where the neighbors stenciled his name to designate “his spot” on a wall where he sat for breaks.

Despite a diagnosis of Multiple Systems Atrophy, Bob maintained his positive outlook and humor until the end and charmed all those around him. His spirits were lifted by visits from family and an endless stream of friends with whom he enjoyed conversation and listening to books.

Bob will be missed by his children, Sarah Maleki (Meade Maleki) and Joanna Schwartz (Joshua Carlson); brother, Tom Schwartz (Sylvia Schwartz); sister, Wendy Schwartz, and grandchildren, Emery and Pilar Maleki along with countless friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

A celebration of his life will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Mission MSA https://missionmsa.org/ in Bob’s memory.