Martha Schwartz

Martha Schwartz, of Tallahassee, died on August 27, 2024 after a brief illness. Mrs. Schwartz was a Registered Nurse and had worked at Elmhurst Hospital Center in NYC as well as at Boca Raton Community Hospital. Martha was born in 1931 in Vienna, Austria. Her father, Hyman Schwarz (yes her maiden name was Schwarz, and her married name became Schwartz!) owned a small manufacturing business for auto parts. Martha had a younger sister, Evelyn, and up until February of 1938 the family lived a routine life – going to school, traveling, taking family vacations. They lived in an apartment in the city of Vienna and Martha’s aunt and uncle lived close by with their children. Life began horribly changing in 1938 when Adolf Hitler --- who was Germany’s chancellor--- took over the country of Austria and began the nightmarish persecution of Jewish people. Overnight, Martha and her family’s existence were forever altered. Her father’s business was taken away from him and they were forbidden to attend school, shop, or to go to parks. It was dangerous even for the family to leave their home. Her parents, Hyman and Golda, knew the family had to flee but it would take time. In November of 1938, Kristallnacht, occurred. This was the Night of Broken Glass when violent Nazi mobs viciously attacked Jewish homes and businesses and synagogues. Throughout the rest of her life, Martha always recalled how the Nazi soldiers entered her family’s home, stole their valuables and took away her father. Miraculously, with her mother bravely pleading, Martha’s father was able to return home, thereby being spared being shipped off to a Concentration camp. And again, miraculously, in February of 1939 ---on the very eve of their departure for the United States--- having obtained their Paperwork from the Embassy, Martha’s father was taken away again when the Nazi soldiers stole more valuables from them; Hyman was once again taken away by the Gestapo; this time to the Local Jail and the Police Chief, who knew him, let him go home. After arriving in New York City, Martha learned English, attended school and worked, marrying Hank Schwartz in 1949 and then raising a family. During the 1970s, while raising her family, she attended Queensborough Community College and earned her Associates Degree as a Registered Nurse. She worked at a NYC hospital and then at Boca Raton Community Hospital after she and Hank moved to South Florida. Martha returned to Vienna several times with her family and during one of these trips, she gave thanks to God that she had been spared in 1939 as a child and that in 1973 she became a follower of Yeshua and was saved a second time, forever. Martha was a Wonderful cook and baker. Most notably she did not rely on recipes and all of her meals were delicious. Since no recipes were followed, family members would try and observe very closely while she cooked in order to attempt to replicate the scrumptious foods! Other hobbies that Martha pursued during her lifetime were needlepoint, tennis, and reading. She especially liked Agatha Christie and Mary Higgins Clarks mysteries. In more recent years, Martha lived in Tallahassee and attended classes at Florida State University with a focus on history and literature. Martha is survived by her children, Nina Schwartz, Mitch Schwartz, and Jill Rowan, 6 grandchildren and 1 great grand child. A celebration of the life of Martha Schwartz will be held on Friday, September 13th, at Bradfordville First Baptist Church at 11 am. Todd Wahlquist is assisting the Schwartz family with their arrangements (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com).

Tributes

Martha Schwartz

January 11, 1931 - August 27, 2024