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Noted Canadian furniture retailer Irving Schwartz dies at 81

Ended his store's TV ads with, ‘I guarantee it!'

Michael Knell -- Furniture Today, September 21, 2010

Irving Schwartz

SYDNEY, Nova Scotia — Furniture retailer Irving Schwartz, president of Schwartz & Co., died here Saturday after a two-year battle with cancer and Parkinson's disease. He was 81.

Schwartz got his start in business at age 13, assisting his mother, Rose, in the family's general store in New Waterford, Nova Scotia.

Today, Schwartz & Co. has four stores offering furniture, mattresses, appliances and electronics. The company also has a rental division.

Schwartz also was one of the founders of Allied Furniture Distributors, one of the first furniture buying groups in Canada. Allied is now part of Mega Group and Schwartz & Co. is a member of the Dufresne Retail Solutions Group.

Over the years, Schwartz owned or invested in a wide range of businesses. At the time of his death, he was president of the Seaside Group, with operations in cable television, wireless Internet, software development, and clinical research. He also was chairman of Schwartz and Co. and president of Vulcan Holdings, a real estate company.

He also had an extensive resume of public service in children's charities, the arts and education. He also had been a volunteer firefighter.

Schwartz also founded and operated the nonprofit Canadian International Demining Corps, which carried out land mine removal operations in many countries.

In recognition of his business and community activities he was named a member of the Order of Canada in 1997.

When he was named an officer of the order in 2003, then-Governor General Adrienne Clarkson described him as "a visionary entrepreneur and committed philanthropist (who) has made significant contributions to Cape Breton. Irving Schwartz has invested resources, time and expertise in local knowledge-based companies, helping to diversify and develop the island's economy."

In eastern Nova Scotia, Schwartz was well known for fronting the retail operation's television commercials, ending each with the tag line, "I guarantee it!" Once, while traveling in Bosnia in support of demining operations there, he encountered a group of Canadian peacekeepers and asked if any were from Cape Breton. "I guarantee it," one soldier replied.

In 2002, Irving was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, and the following year he was inducted into the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame. He was also in the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame. In 2008, he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Dalhousie University.

At the time of his death, he had been designated as the next recipient of an Honorary Lifetime Membership by the Canadian Home Furnishings Alliance in recognition of his contributions to the furniture industry. The award will be presented at the CHFA Gala in January.

After being diagnosed with cancer in 2008, Schwartz headed a campaign that raised C$5.5 million for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital's cancer unit.

Through several operations and chemotherapy treatments, he continued to work full time. He spent the day before his death working at the furniture store before attending Yom Kippur services at the Temple Sons of Israel Synagogue in Sydney Friday evening.

Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter said in a statement that Irving Schwartz's "legacy as a community leader and philanthropist will be the achievements for which he is most remembered."

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Diana Usher Schwartz, four children, four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to The Parkinson Society Maritime Region, 7071 Bayers Rd., Suite 150, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3L 2C2; or to The Cape Breton Cares Campaign, Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation at 45 Weatherbee Rd., Suite 304A, Sydney, Nova Scotia, B1M 0A1.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.com.

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Longtime retailer Irving Schwartz dies at 81

Nov 24, 2010

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