Herb Schwartz’s legacy is one of deep love for family, friends and having a lifelong positive influence on the people in his life. He most loved the time he spent living life and “schmoozing” with his wife Judith, kids, grandkids and close friends. Herb passed away peacefully on October 5th 2016, at his home surrounded by his family, he was 83.

Herb was passionate about business, his success is not measured in buildings or monuments but rather by the countless number of people he created opportunities for, enriching their personal lives and their careers. He had an amazing ability to connect deeply with people from all walks of life and became the “go to person” for advice on life and business.

Herb Schwartz of Medina, WA & La Quinta, CA was born January 5th 1933 in Chicago, IL to Fay and David Schwartz. Herb graduated from Von Stuben High School in Chicago where he was a member of the Men’s Varsity Basketball team.

Moving to Seattle in 1955, he began building the first of his three companies, H.E. Schwartz & Associates, a leading insurance agency in Washington and Oregon that in 1969 was honored by CNA as the nation’s “Agency of the Year”. By the mid-1980s he was seen as the country’s preeminent authority in the fast growing senior insurance market. Herb was ultimately attributed with the creation and growth of long-term care insurance nationally as CEO of his second company, Worldwide Insurance Network, recruiting, licensing and training over 12,000 independent insurance agents across the USA. After Worldwide was acquired, Herb set his sights on another first, the development and distribution of the nation’s first home health care insurance plans as CEO of his 3rd company, The Schwartz Group.

Herb will be remembered for his engaging “story-driven” marketing and selling methodologies which drove the success of his companies and the accomplishments of many people who saw Herb as a mentor and built life-long careers in insurance and other leading industries.

As a transplant to Seattle, boating was new to Herb, it quickly became a passion of his. He created many fun memories with family and friends cruising and fishing the northwest waters on his boats, MAJOR 1 and Diamond Lady.

Even during his courageous 6 year battle with colon cancer his love for people and positive approach to life continued to the end. “I’ll never forget Herb speaking at our gala, inspiring so many other people with his story. The new clinical trials unit we were able to build at Swedish Cancer Institute – is in no small part thanks to Herb, his bravery and his generosity in sharing his story with others” said an executive with Swedish Medical Center Foundation.

Herb is survived by his loving wife of 26 years, Judith Herbig Schwartz; his children Mark Schwartz, of Bellevue WA; Bob and Amy Schwartz, of Manhattan Beach CA; and Jami Blumenstein of Mercer Island WA; his grandkids; Jhordan Stevenson Schwartz; Zachary and Jacob Schwartz; and Grant, Ryan and Julia Blumenstein; and his former wife Carolyn Schwartz.

Herb was preceded in death by his sister and best friend, Barbara Turbow; and his loving parents Fay and Dave Schwartz.

Services will be private. Remembrances can be made to “Swedish Medical Center Foundation in honor of Herb Schwartz”, and will support the research work of Dr. Philip J. Gold and his team to further their successful efforts in personalized cancer medicine.

One of Herb’s many sayings is “Wisdom comes on the time payment plan” – He leaves many wiser in life, in family and in business from spending time with Herb while he walked this earth.