Andrew “Andy” Martin Schwartz, MD, 67, resident of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, died peacefully at his home on September 1, 2021, surrounded by his loving wife and children.
Andy was born in Manhasset, New York on April 3, 1954, to Aaron Schwartz and Lorraine Goldston Schwartz Zippert. At a very early age, Andy decided he wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon and never wavered from that dream. He graduated from Great Neck High School in Great Neck, New York, and went on to earn an undergraduate degree at City University of New York and a medical degree at Georgetown University. He was awarded a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. He later became board certified as a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Andy served 22 years as a surgeon at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, until 2011. He later took a position as a Chief Medical Officer at Southeastern Health in Lumberton, North Carolina. In 2016, Dr. Schwartz and his wife, Janet, moved to Myrtle Beach where he assumed an executive position as Chief Medical Officer at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. Among his many professional accomplishments, Andy was most proud of his work with the Institute of Spirituality at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Andy was a wonderful husband, father and compassionate doctor. He enjoyed working out and was avid about staying fit and leading a healthy lifestyle. He had an artistic side and enjoyed painting and his dogs, Jack and Beau. First and foremost he was devoted to his family and his patients. He was beloved by family, friends and his many patients for his humble and gentle nature; his compassion, kindness and graciousness; and his determination to do his best in every endeavor.
Andy was a generous and loving friend to many and would drop everything to help a friend through an illness or other struggle, always putting others before himself. He spent many of his final months hosting a blog site to chronicle his fight with cancer and help others by sharing his experiences. Andy was also passionate about margaritas, ice cream, Jack Stack beans, Tikkun Olam (mending the world) and improving patient quality of care and safety. He was active in the practice of his Jewish faith.
Andy is survived by his wife of 31 years, Janet Gasparello Schwartz; daughter, Taylor Schwartz of Kansas City, Missouri; son, Alexander Schwartz of Wilmington, North Carolina; his twin sister, Beth Schwartz of Babylon, New York, and sisters Ann Pogolowitz (Joel) of Fairlawn, New Jersey, and Jane Magenheimer (Lou) of Seaford, New York. Andy was preceded in death by parents Aaron Schwartz and Lorraine Goldston Schwartz Zippert.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave. Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, or the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW, Washington, DC 20024.
