M. William "Bill" Schwartz

M. William “Bill” Schwartz, MD, passed away peacefully from natural causes on March 13, 2026, at the age of 90. A devoted physician, teacher, husband, father, and grandfather, Bill lived a life defined by service to children, dedication to education, and deep commitment to family and friends.

Born in 1935 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, to Harry and Sylvia Schwartz, Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Richard “Dick” Schwartz and Elisabeth Schwartz King. He graduated from high school in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, in 1953, earned his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College in 1957, and received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1961. He completed his internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami in 1962 and his pediatrics residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 1964.

During his residency, Bill met Susan Goldner Schwartz. After being set up on two blind dates, they quickly realized they were meant for each other and married in Philadelphia in 1964. They shared nearly sixty years of marriage until Susan’s passing in 2024. Bill served as a Captain and base pediatrician in the United States Air Force at George Air Force Base from 1965 to 1967, where he and Susan welcomed their first son, David Schwartz, in 1966. After returning to Philadelphia, he completed a nephrology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia under the mentorship of David Cornfeld. In 1969, Bill and Susan welcomed their second son, Charles Schwartz.

Over a distinguished career spanning several decades, Bill became a Full Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania. He published numerous research studies, authored multiple editions of pediatric textbooks, and held key administrative roles including Assistant Department Chair and Assistant Dean of Primary Care. An annual Grand Rounds lecture series at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia now bears his name. His greatest passion was teaching. He mentored hundreds of medical students and residents, earning the prestigious Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1978. Many of his former students remained lifelong friends, and he inspired generations of physicians to become leaders in their fields.

Beyond medicine, Bill was a dedicated advocate for families in need and served for many years on the board of the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia. He is survived by his sons, David Schwartz, owner of Sophy Curson Boutique in Philadelphia, and Charles Schwartz, a pediatrician and Regional Medical Director with the University of Pennsylvania Health System, who is married to Brandie Schwartz. He was an immensely proud grandfather to Mitchell Schwartz, a third-generation physician currently training at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, and Caroline Schwartz, who is pursuing a Master of Business Management at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

After retiring, Bill embraced the role of grandfather with great joy, attending sporting events, dance recitals, and staying actively involved in his grandchildren’s schools and religious education. He and Susan shared a deep love of travel and Native American art, making annual summer trips to Santa Fe for many years. Together they explored the United States, Europe, and Israel, and later enjoyed memorable family trips with their children and grandchildren to Charleston, Utah, London, Paris, Rome, and Florence. Bill also cherished more than five decades of summers at the family home in Loveladies, New Jersey, on Long Beach Island, where he sailed on Barnegat Bay and watched sunsets from the back deck. He found lasting joy in needlepoint, a craft first shared with him by his mother, creating intricate pieces featuring Native American designs, trains, his dogs, and his “grand-dogs.” He and Susan were passionate supporters of the arts, regularly attending performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia Opera, the Barnes Museum, and the Philadelphia Flower Show, and taking the train to New York City for Sunday Broadway matinees with their son David.

Bill will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his patients, and his friends. He was known for his quick wit and subtle humor, often teasing those he loved most. A thoughtful listener, wise advisor, devoted mentor, and loyal friend, his legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren, the countless students he taught, the patients he cared for, and the family he loved so deeply.