Irwin "Irv" Schwartz

Irwin “Irv” Schwartz on November 12, 2025. Irv was born on January 17, 1937, in Asbury Park, New Jersey to Abe and Kathryn Schwartz (later Kathryn Chernoff), and had two older brothers, Richard (Dick) and Herbie.

The family moved to a number of locations around the Philadelphia area, finally settling in Northeast Philly where they ran a small sandwich shop. While attending Olney High School, he met the love of his life, Jeannie Greenblatt. Irv went on to attend Temple University’s Tyler School of Art while Jeannie pursued a degree in secondary education in English and History, also from Temple.

In 1956, Irv changed his career path and went to cosmetology school. In 1958, Jeannie and Irv married and celebrated their honeymoon on an epic cross-country trip with Abe and Kathryn. They settled in Northeast Philly and in 1966, Irv opened the Curl Cage Beauty Salon which he ran for 48 years. Over that time, he was a fixture in the Fox Chase neighborhood serving generations of family members. They welcomed their first daughter, Wendi (Judy Fleming), then Lisa (Bruce Fritz), and finally Cindy (Chris Lundeen) as well as their first pets: Cocky the cockatiel, Princess the cat, and Fluffy the dog. Thus began a long history of animal adoptions which continues to this day, and which has been passed onto their children and grandchildren.

In 1968, the family were moving on up to Huntingdon Valley where they currently live. Over the years, Irv and Jeannie traveled to Israel, Greece, Rome, the West Coast, and Alaska while spending their time antiquing at flea markets, listening to show tunes and big bands, reading and talking about history, rescuing animals, and rooting for all of the Philadelphia sports teams, especially the Eagles. He was also a fervent supporter and actively campaigned for critical liberal causes and even met Gloria Steinem, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton.

Always outgoing and quick with a joke and a funny story, Irv was known for his ability to talk to literally anyone. He could relate stories of growing up as a scrawny Jewish kid in some of the toughest neighborhoods in Philly and spending time with his family in Asbury Park. He also was an avid tinkerer and was perpetually building something or working on a project, including the huge dollhouse he made by hand, or his toy trains. He was active with Greyhound rescue and was devoted to Honeybear, his current Greyhound, as well as his current 3 cats.

Irv and Jeannie are exceptionally close to all three of their children and their grandchildren, Samantha, Chad, Dean, Ayanna, and Kathryn, and were instrumental in their care. The only time Irv and Jeannie were separated over their 72 years together was when one of them was hospitalized or when Jeannie went to Guatemala with Cindy and Chris to adopt Katie. They are also extremely devoted to their five great grandchildren: Olivia, Violet, Bennie, Emilia, and Baby Miles. Even when Irv was suffering with Parkinson’s, he still made sure to go to Temple and various art shows, to encourage Katie who is now following in his footsteps at Tyler. He was always helping his family fix anything that was broken or offer advice on where to go for something, especially if it was Costco. He leaves a legacy of love of his wife of 68 years, family devotion, animal rescue, passion for the Eagles, history, music, his famous yellow Baja with the greyhound stickers, and of course, Costco. He was the epitome of a mensch.

The family will be receiving relatives and friends on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Funeral Directors Suburban North Southampton 310 2nd Street Pike Southampton, PA 18966. Services will start precisely at 11:30 AM. Interment to follow at Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions may be made in Irv’s honor to continue his philanthropic work to Jewish Family and Children’s Services, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, or any animal rescue of the donor’s choosing.