I always figured if anyone could make it to 100, it would be Bernard Schwartz. Shrewd, indefatigable, and deeply engaged in civic and political life, Bernard had every reason to get up every day, dressed for success and make his way to his midtown office to watch over a city he loved so much.
As it happens, he fell just short, dying Tuesday at 98. Rather than mourn what inevitably comes for us all, I want to praise this great and incredibly generous soul.
Bernard – woe to those who presumed to call him “Bernie” – was a quintessential 20th Century American success story. The Jewish kid from Bensonhurst attended City University of New York, served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, became an accountant and later made a fortune as a defense contractor and financial investor.
Along the way, he never lost his passion for the Democratic Party, which he saw as the champion of equal opportunity and upward mobility for outsiders and newcomer families like his.
Possessed by an unquenchable optimism about America, Bernard believed in giving back to his country. He became a prodigious philanthropist in New York and a top donor to Democratic causes and candidates.
He especially loved Bill and Hillary Clinton, and became a generous benefactor to the New Democrat movement spearheaded by the Democratic Leadership Council and the Progressive Policy Institute.
Engaging with Bernard was indeed a stroke of good fortune, as he brought much more than financial support to the table. His intellectual curiosity was insatiable, and he always posed thought-provoking questions about the initiatives he invested in. The lively and stimulating discussions in his office are among my cherished memories, where we delved deep into ideas, policies, and the nuances of political strategy and tactics. Bernard could be opinionated, but he didn’t expect you to accede to his views, only that you offer a strong defense of your own.
Bernard became a friend and counselor who dispensed invaluable advice. I will never forget how he helped PPI through a rough patch after we parted company with the DLC in 2009. And I’m glad he lived to see his faith vindicated by PPI’s subsequent rebound and expansion.
He never asked for anything in return for his support, which he spread liberally to scholars and organizations from the Democrats’ pragmatic center to the left. There’s hardly a liberal-leaning think tank in Washington that hasn’t benefitted from his largess.
Bernard Schwartz loved America, New York, the Democratic Party and Mickey Mouse, who furnished him with the “Rosebud” memories of his youth in Brookland. I loved the man and will miss him.
