James Schwarz, a professor of chemical engineering and material science for Syracuse University’s L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science, passed away at the age of 60 on Sept. 26 after a long battle with illness.

‘Jim was a very accomplished teacher and researcher, as well as being very well-liked,’ said Eric F. Spina, the Douglas D. Danforth Dean of ECS. ‘He had a passion for his students and teaching. You don’t normally see that with many great researchers.’

Lawrence Tavlarides, chair of Schwarz’s department and a personal friend, said Schwarz had the same passion for people that he did for science.

‘His enthusiasm was contagious,’ Tavlarides said. ‘He was always engaging colleagues and students, and had a way of helping faculty go in new directions.’

Throughout his time at SU, Schwarz was constantly experimenting outside of the classroom. He was known throughout the world for his original research and held 14 patents for his discoveries.

During his lifetime, Schwarz received almost $5 million in grants and patents, including a Fulbright Award to study in Romania in 1997, while submitting to more than 225 publications. Two years ago, Schwarz received the Chancellor’s Citation for Exceptional Academic Achievement, which is one of the most honored distinctions given by SU.

‘Jim was an amazing person,’ Spina said. ‘He appreciated the diversity of the world and the advances many different people brought to technology. He also was a gentle person. You never witnessed or heard him say anything bad about anyone.’

Schwarz had a passion for learning. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology, going on to be a doctoral student at Stanford University where he worked on vitamin C research with Nobel Prize-winner Linus Pauling, and then at Cambridge University where he worked with Jack Linnett, a famous chemist and physicist.

From there, Schwarz occupied multiple jobs, including seven years of work in the oil industry for Chevron Research and Exxon Research and Engineering. In 1979, he became an associate professor in ECS’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and was made a full professor in 1985, where he was employed until his passing.

Near the end of his life, Schwarz dealt with many serious health problems, but instead of letting his quest for knowledge dwindle, it fueled his passion for learning.

‘Jim had a hip implant a number of years ago, so he began to investigate traditional bio-material research,’ said Spina. ‘That was the nature of Jim, he was very inquisitive. If there was something unknown in this world, he wanted to know more.’

Bhushan Hole, a graduate student studying chemical engineering, met Schwarz when they collaborated on the biomaterial research two years ago, and he was instantly impressed.

‘Dr. Schwarz had a great passion for science and knowledge,’ Hole said. ‘His main contribution was to offer new things to science and he never wanted to give up.’

Hole also spoke about Schwarz as an equally impressive person as he was a scientist.

‘Students always found him as a great friend and also had a lot of respect for him,’ Hole said. ‘He always understood all the students and what they want, so they were always happy to work with him, and were always motivated by him. He knew how to deal and motivate all people, including the faculty members, and it was really great.’

Schwarz also had many hobbies outside of the university.

‘He loved to swim and play golf, and owning and driving Corvettes,’ Hole said. ‘He had a real passion for cars.’

A memorial service will be held Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. at the Eastern Hills Bible Church, 4600 Enders Road in Manlius. A university service will be conducted in Hendricks Chapel on a later date.

‘Schwarz never stopped learning and working,’ Tavlarides said. ‘He was going to work as long as he could, and he did. He continued to be inventive and forward thinking, and the impact of that is still yet to be known.’

Published on October 3, 2004 at 12:00 pm