Institute Mourns the Passing of Board Member Fred Schwartz

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy extends its condolences to the family of Fred Schwartz, a longtime member of the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, who passed away at age 83.

Institute Executive Director Robert Satloff recalled Mr. Schwartz as “a truly remarkable person. Intrepid in the face of death, he never let fear of mortality stand in the way of a new idea, a plan for tomorrow, a way to build a better future for his family, his people and the wider world. He projected a constant stream of bold ideas to keep the institute fresh, alert and ahead-of-the-curve. He and his beloved Allyne were fixtures at Institute conferences and events from our earliest days. His spark will be sorely missed -- at the Institute and around the world.”

One of the earliest supporters of the Washington Institute, Mr. Schwartz was active in numerous local, national and international causes. He was responsible for converting the last standing synagogue in the town of Oswiecim, Poland, into the Auschwitz Jewish Center, and founding the Auschwitz Institute for Peace and Reconciliation in the nearby Auschwitz death camp.

“Fred was kind, caring, big-hearted and filled with boundless love for family, friends and the countless young people whose lives he touched along the way,” said Satloff.