Mortimer D. Schwartz, King Hall's Founding Library Director, Dies at 94
Mortimer D. Schwartz, Founding Director of the Mabie Law Library and Professor of Law at King Hall, passed away on September 10. He was 94 years old.
As Law Library Director, Schwartz enjoyed the opportunity to help law students, legal scholars, attorneys and members of the public. A respected legal scholar, he co-authored or co-edited many books on subjects including space law, legal ethics, children's rights, pollution law, environmental law, legal history, and law library administration. Schwartz received numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Marian Gould Gallagher Distinguished Service Award, the highest award for service granted by the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL).
In 1965, Schwartz came to UC Davis to create the law library of the soon-to-be-opened School of Law. When he arrived, there were no books, no law school building, and no library staff. By the time he retired in 1991, the law library was one of the outstanding law libraries in the country.
Schwartz was born on September 3, 1922, to Samuel and Shirley Schwartz in New York City. He spent most of his early years in Connecticut. His undergraduate education was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the U.S. Navy. After the war, he received his J.D. from Boston University (1949), where he also received a master's degree in law (1950). He then attended Columbia University, where he received his degree in library science (1951). He frequently expressed gratitude for the G.I. Bill of Rights, which made it financially possible for him to attend these institutions.
Schwartz is survived by his wife of almost 30 years, Giovanna Oettinger, and his son, Henry (Hank) Schwartz. His son Robert predeceased him. Schwartz's first marriage to Gwen Schwartz of Davis ended in divorce. He is also survived by his stepchildren Sara Bowsky and Monica Dwyer and her husband Michael Dwyer, Gerald Oettinger and his wife Tasha Beretvas, Neil Oettinger and his wife Beth, Sara's daughter Karabelo, Monica and Michael's children Siena and Dominic, Gerald and Tasha's daughter, Gabriella, and by Neil and Beth's son Marcus.