Obituary of Morton H. Swartz

Morton H. Swartz, age 83 of Boca Raton, Florida, former Albany resident died on Thursday morning February 19, 2009 at the Boca Raton Community Hospital after a long illness. He was born in Albany and was the Son of the late Henry and Carrie Swartz. He was a Graduate of Milne High School and Syracuse University. After serving in the U.S. Army in WWII, Mort worked as an accountant until joining his father as the proprietor of Kovar's Women's Fashion Shop in 1948. Subsequently, he founded Barbizon Fashion Shop at Westgate Shopping Center in 1958. Over the next three decades, he successfully expanded his retail business by opening additional Barbizon stores in Colonie, Schenectady and Clifton Park and Poughkeepsie. He retired to Boca Raton, FL in 1995. Mort was active in the Albany and Boca Raton communities. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany and involved with fundraising for the Jewish Federations of Northeastern NY and Boca Raton. He also served as president of Colonie Country Club and the Waters Reach Homeowners' Association at Boca West. In addition to his wife, Jacqueline, Mr. Swartz is survived by his sons, Andrew (Beth) of Slingerlands and Richard (Elizabeth) of Mendon, VT, his four grandchildren, Daniel, Kyra, Brian and Michael. He was predeceased by his brother, Bernard. Services will be held on Sunday February 22, 2009 at 11:00am at the Mendleson Chapel located on the grounds of the Beth Emeth Cemetery on Turner Lane in Loudonville, NY. Interment will follow in the family plot. Those wishing to remember Mort in a special way may make a memorial contribution to Congregation Beth Emeth 100 Academy Road Albany, NY 12208 or a charity of ones choice. The period of mourning will be observed at the home of Andrew and Beth Swartz, 33 Carstead Drive in Slingerlands, NY on Sunday commencing at 7:00pm.