David L. Schwartz

David L. Schwartz, emeritus professor of economics at Albright College, died of natural causes June 27 in his residence in Cumru Township. Schwartz, 70, was the husband of Mary L. Attili.

He was an economics professor at Albright for 35 years. While at Albright, Schwartz was a foreign-student adviser for eight years and department chair of economics and business for three years.

He also taught Latin American studies and most recently was a part-time professor of Albright's degree completion program.

As part of the Fine Arts Commission, Schwartz presented a poster exhibit in the Freedman Gallery on Revolution and Culture in Latin America.

Born in Allentown, he was a son of the late Charles W. and Arabella S. (Walters) Schwartz.

Schwartz was a graduate of Allentown High School, Moravian Prep School and Muhlenberg College. He received his master's degree in economics in 1964 from Michigan State University, where he also was a graduate teaching assistant.

He continued doctoral studies at Temple University and had a graduate fellowship there. He also studied at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico, and the Instituto Superior Pedagogico de Lenguas Extranieras Pable Lafarge in Havana, Cuba.

Schwartz was honorably discharged as a sergeant in the Marine Corps, having served from September 1953 to September 1961 in the Butterweck Detachment.

As a specialist in Latin American studies, he presented papers and lectured at Albright College and in the Reading and Berks County communities as well as in colleges throughout Pennsylvania, Central America and Spain.

His numerous publications and translations of scholarly works ranged from topics on environmental pollution in Latin America; socialist democracy in Cuba, ideology and independence in the Americas to the origins and development of mathematics.

Schwartz was a member of the American Legion. He also was a master high-power rifle champion. He was a founding member and vice president of Comite Dos Aquilas, a nonprofit, charitable organization to aid Mexican farm workers.

He also served on Concilio Hispano of Reading and Berks County and was a member of the Berks County Chapter of the ACLU. He participated in the Marine Corps League's annual Toys for Tots campaign.

Schwartz was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Millmont, and St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, Reading. He served as a eucharistic minister to the sick and homebound.

He also is survived by two daughters, Stephanie (Schwartz) Pain, Frederick, Md., and Pamela (Schwartz) Clark, Arlington, Va.; and Mary's three children: Robert K. Steinmetz, Atlanta; Gretchen (Steinmetz) Keith, Shillington; and Matthew M. Steinmetz, Oakland, Calif.

Other survivors include a sister, June DeMott, Allentown; and a brother, Charles Schwartz Jr., Tempe, Ariz.

There also are 11 grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Anthony of Padua Church. Visitation will be Saturday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the church. Burial will be in Gethsemane Cemetery. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home Inc., West Reading, is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Witness for Peace, 3628 12th St. N.E., first floor, Washington, D.C., 20017 (www.witnessforpeace.org) or to St. Anthony of Padua Church, 501 Summit Ave., Reading, PA 19611