Obituary for Betty Ann Schwartz
Betty Ann Schwartz, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, died peacefully on December 5, 2020.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Jane Schwartz, of Nellysford, Va., by her cousin, Marsha Grossman, of Rochester, N.Y. as well as Marsha’s children Sharon Grossman, Linda Grossman, and Martin Grossman; members of the Schwartz family who are grieving her loss include her nephew, Steven Schwartz and his wife Anne, also of Nellysford, Va, and her niece, Barbara Poole and her husband David LeClair, of Charleston, S.C . In addition, she is survived by her two great-nephews, Jason Schwartz (Adrianne) of Gilbert, AZ., and Justin Poole (Crystal) of Charleston, S.C. and by two great-great nieces, Charlie Jane Schwartz and Adalyn Claire Poole, and one great-great nephew, Brooks Henry Poole.
Betty was predeceased by her brother Dr. Henry A. [Hank] Schwartz in 2016.
Betty’s loss is mourned by her dear friends Paul and Beryl Walsh, and by the Barneses, her adopting family, who vacationed several cottages down the lake in Gimli; she will be missed by her dear friend, companion, and caregiver Merribeth Gibson, and her primary care physician and friend Dr. Grant Goldberg.
Betty was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 24, 1928. Her parents were Caroline [nee Weissman] originally from Romania, and Jack Schwartz, originally from Russia. She graduated from Hampton, Virginia High School in 1946, earned a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh, and continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Betty’s professional career included employment by both public and private agencies dealing with child welfare. She began working as a social worker at the Baltimore, Maryland office of the Florence Crittenton Home, a non-profit organization focused on the needs of unwed mothers, and after several promotions, became its Executive Director. While in Baltimore, she served on the faculty of the training institute of Planned Parenthood, was an advisor to Parents Without Partners, and was a sought-after speaker and workshop leader.
Betty was recruited to assume the position of Executive Director of the Children’s Aid Society of Winnipeg in the early 1970’s and retired from that role many years later.
She was lifelong champion for children’s and women’s rights. In addition to being a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, she also served on the Board of The Manitoba Blue Cross and the Mount Carmel Clinic.
Betty was truly a “people person” - she loved conversation with anyone, anywhere. She was known for her wonderful, wry sense of humor, her progressive political views, as well as her love of The New York Times crossword puzzles. For recreation, she enjoyed attending plays, operas, and movies. Also, she loved to travel, often with her cousin Marsha, to their favorite places, including Alaska, Las Cruces, Greece, and Curacao. Always an avid sports fan, Betty was devoted to the Winnipeg Jets and the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.
While Betty remained a citizen of the United States, she loved Winnipeg and made it her home for over 40 years. However, Betty’s greatest joy was her summer home in Gimli on Lake Winnipeg. It was her source of peace, entertainment, and wonderful friendships with her neighbors.
At Betty’s request, there will be no formal services. Should you wish to remember her, please consider doing so by a donation to The Manitoba Medical Services Research Foundation (for pain management research), or to The Gimli Film Festival.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Jane Schwartz, of Nellysford, Va., by her cousin, Marsha Grossman, of Rochester, N.Y. as well as Marsha’s children Sharon Grossman, Linda Grossman, and Martin Grossman; members of the Schwartz family who are grieving her loss include her nephew, Steven Schwartz and his wife Anne, also of Nellysford, Va, and her niece, Barbara Poole and her husband David LeClair, of Charleston, S.C . In addition, she is survived by her two great-nephews, Jason Schwartz (Adrianne) of Gilbert, AZ., and Justin Poole (Crystal) of Charleston, S.C. and by two great-great nieces, Charlie Jane Schwartz and Adalyn Claire Poole, and one great-great nephew, Brooks Henry Poole.
Betty was predeceased by her brother Dr. Henry A. [Hank] Schwartz in 2016.
Betty’s loss is mourned by her dear friends Paul and Beryl Walsh, and by the Barneses, her adopting family, who vacationed several cottages down the lake in Gimli; she will be missed by her dear friend, companion, and caregiver Merribeth Gibson, and her primary care physician and friend Dr. Grant Goldberg.
Betty was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 24, 1928. Her parents were Caroline [nee Weissman] originally from Romania, and Jack Schwartz, originally from Russia. She graduated from Hampton, Virginia High School in 1946, earned a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh, and continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Betty’s professional career included employment by both public and private agencies dealing with child welfare. She began working as a social worker at the Baltimore, Maryland office of the Florence Crittenton Home, a non-profit organization focused on the needs of unwed mothers, and after several promotions, became its Executive Director. While in Baltimore, she served on the faculty of the training institute of Planned Parenthood, was an advisor to Parents Without Partners, and was a sought-after speaker and workshop leader.
Betty was recruited to assume the position of Executive Director of the Children’s Aid Society of Winnipeg in the early 1970’s and retired from that role many years later.
She was lifelong champion for children’s and women’s rights. In addition to being a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers, she also served on the Board of The Manitoba Blue Cross and the Mount Carmel Clinic.
Betty was truly a “people person” - she loved conversation with anyone, anywhere. She was known for her wonderful, wry sense of humor, her progressive political views, as well as her love of The New York Times crossword puzzles. For recreation, she enjoyed attending plays, operas, and movies. Also, she loved to travel, often with her cousin Marsha, to their favorite places, including Alaska, Las Cruces, Greece, and Curacao. Always an avid sports fan, Betty was devoted to the Winnipeg Jets and the Baltimore Orioles baseball team.
While Betty remained a citizen of the United States, she loved Winnipeg and made it her home for over 40 years. However, Betty’s greatest joy was her summer home in Gimli on Lake Winnipeg. It was her source of peace, entertainment, and wonderful friendships with her neighbors.
At Betty’s request, there will be no formal services. Should you wish to remember her, please consider doing so by a donation to The Manitoba Medical Services Research Foundation (for pain management research), or to The Gimli Film Festival.