Father William H. Schwartz

Father William H. Schwartz, age 79 of Hamilton passed away at Mercy Franciscan at Schroder on Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 3:50 AM. He was born in Cincinnati on May 28, 1928 the son of William J. and Genevieve (Hofmann) Schwartz. He earned an AB from St. Gregory Seminary and a M.Div. from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Norwood. He was ordained on May 30, 1953 by Archbishop Karl J. Alter at St. Monica Cathedral, Cincinnati, Ohio. Father Schwartz received his first assignment in June of 1953 as assistant pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Reading. Throughout his priesthood, he also served as assistant at St. Mary Parish, Hamilton, Sacred Heart Parish, Dayton, St. Patrick Parish, Fayetteville, Holy Ghost Parish, Vera Cruz, St. Antoninus Parish, Cincinnati, and Assumption Parish, Mt. Healthy. He was pastor at the following parishes throughout his priesthood: Seven Dolars Parish, Monroe, Queen of Martyrs Parish, Dayton, St. Catharine Parish, Cincinnati, Holy Redeemer Parish, New Bremen, St. Thomas More Parish, Withamsville, and St. Peter in Chains Parish in Hamilton. Fr. Schwartz served as administrator at St. Michael Parish, Mount Orab, St. Charles Parish, Cincinnati, St. Peter Parish, New Richmond, and Queen of Peace Parish, Millville. During his priesthood he taught at Hamilton Catholic High School, Hamilton, St. Joseph Commercial School, Dayton, and Seton High School in Cincinnati. For a time, he served as chaplain of Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, the Boy Scouts, Dayton District, St. Joseph Orphanage, Cincinnati, and Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse, Cincinnati and St. Joseph Infant Home, Cincinnati. Along with his various assignments, Fr. Schwartz also served as Director of the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of the Dayton area, Director of Catholic Charities and St. Vincent de Paul Society, Dayton and Procurator at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary.

He is survived by one brother, James A. Schwartz of Altoona, Wisconsin; one sister, Susan Faust of Walnut Creek, California; and four nieces and three nephews.

It was Father’s wish that his body be donated to the University of Cincinnati Medical College. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 2550 Millville Avenue, on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 10:00 AM with Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, Celebrant and Fr. Ed Smith preaching the homily.