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Joe and Gloria
Joe
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Joe was the Burroughs-Wellcome Professor of Pharmaceutics and
Director of Industrial Pharmacy Research at the Philadelphia College of
Pharmacy (University of the Sciences in Philadelphia). He previously worked
for Merck Sharpe and Dohme Research and Development Laboratories from 1967
to 1981.
His research focused primarily in the areas of formulation and processing of
drug delivery systems, both immediate release and controlled release.
In the 1990's, he also served for ten years as Editor of PDA Journal of
Parenteral Science and Technology.
Joe was honored as the 2006 Outstanding Educator by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) at its convention in October.
Joe's warm smile, wonderful wit, and genuine caring for others endeared him
to all he encountered. In turn, he cared deeply for his family and friends,
his colleagues & students, and the more than 30 graduate students he
mentored through their Ph.D programs.
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Ever our "Broadway Baby", he was always eager to share his passionate
interest and encyclopedic knowledge of Broadway musicals with anyone he encountered,
from family and friends to nurses during chemotherapy treatments and
hospital stays.
He was a genuinely nice guy - loyal, honest, and generous in his
relationships. After his diagnosis in 8/04 he said, "I have lived a great
life with opportunities I never imagined. I have no regrets. I am ready to
die but I'm not giving up yet!" And so even in his last week, he continued
to work, oversee the Ph.D defense of his 32nd graduate student, and enjoy
and share knowledge of Broadway music.
Joe fought LeiomyoSarcoma of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with courage and
determination. He was a hero in every sense of the word. He died
at home on August 14, 2006.
His good deeds will be a blessing for his wife Gloria, children Mike
(Angie), Jeff, Dori (Josh), sister Meryl, and all who learned from him.
The Joseph B. Schwartz LMS Research Fund was made a part of this website in
June, 2006. We are grateful to the many loving friends and family members
who have contributed to honor Joe's life and help find a cure.
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Gloria
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You may know Gloria, Joe's wife, as the leader, the teacher, the student, the tireless advocate; to us she was all that, and mom.
Mom taught us, through example the best of what spirituality and religion are supposed to be, while leaving the ethnocentrism, trappings, and stereotypes behind. Judaism to mom was questioning everything and accepting everyone. A person's religion didn't matter to her; she knew that it was only a part of who they were. Judaism was very important to mom, but it didn’t mean she felt it was better, it only meant "this is my path." She held Judaism high and close to her heart but never at the expense, embarrassment, or ridicule of another. As I write this, I seem to remember I said the same about dad. What can I say about mom and dad? June 21, 2008 would have been their 44th anniversary. They were a team. One made the other stronger. He was her hero and she was his.
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Gloria's main focus became Leiomyosarcoma research when Joe was diagnosed. She first met the Leiomyosarcoma community through the ACOR and Yahoo listserves where she made many friends. She later met many patients and caregivers in person at the NLMSF Hugfest. Gloria was a volunteer with LMSdr from its inception and served on the Board of Directors after Joe died.
Her second main project, in recent years, was a book, in honor of Joe, titled "Secrets of a Man's Garden" which will be published soon. As she wished, all proceeds will go directly to LMSdr.
During her life she was passionately involved in many other projects and organizations including:
- Holocaust Oral History Archive at Gratz College which records and transcribes testimonies of Holocaust survivors, witnesses, and liberators.
- Hand in Hand - Center for Jewish Arab Education in Israel which builds peace through the development of bilingual and multicultural schools.
- Peace Action which is the nation's largest grass-roots peace organization.
- Israel National Therapeutic Riding Association which provides treatment using horseback riding as a medium for rehabilitation.
- Women's League for Conservative Judaism which is the largest synagogue-based women's organization in the world.
- U-COUNT which is a community diversity organization founded by Gloria and others in the local community.
Gloria battled Breast Cancer which recurred and metastasized. She died at home on June 19, 2008 surrounded by her family.
Her life, good deeds, generosity and humility will continue to be an inspiration for her friends and family. We are grateful to the many family members and friends who contribute, in her memory, to this fund and others.
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