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Remembering John N. Schwartz ’67

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John Schwartz headshotIt is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Regent John Schwartz 鈥�67 passed away on February 29 surrounded by loved ones.

John was an invaluable member of the 绿茶直播 community from the time he enrolled as a student. He had transformative experiences singing in the choir, including getting the opportunity to tour Norway, Denmark, and Germany during his sophomore year. John graduated with a degree in business administration and went on to earn a degree in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota. He had a thriving career as a healthcare executive for 40 years in Milwaukee, Oregon, Montana, and Chicago until his retirement in 2010.

John鈥檚 passion for choral music and Augsburg鈥檚 impact stayed with him throughout his life. He continued to sing after retirement, including with the Apollo Chorus of Chicago. Always thinking of others, John gave back in extraordinary ways. He showed support for Augsburg music students through his incredible generosity and philanthropy. His most significant gifts were made during the Great Returns: We鈥檙e All In campaign, which included the Leland B. Sateren 鈥�35 professorship and chair of music and the John N. Schwartz professorship of choral leadership and conducting. His latest gift established the John N. Schwartz School of the Arts. In addition to those endeavors, he and his husband James Mosley created the John N. Schwartz and James A. Mosley scholarship.

“It was one of the joys of my presidency to know John Schwartz, who was a remarkable human being,鈥� Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow remarked. 鈥淎s an Augsburg graduate, John exemplified our mission in his professional and personal lives. When we sat together in 2023 to establish the Schwartz School of the Arts, I was moved and inspired by John鈥檚 humble generosity. We have lost a good friend.鈥�

In 2019, John joined the Board of Regents and served on the advancement, finance, and audit committees. He also was part of Augsburg鈥檚 Music Advisory Council. 鈥淛ohn brought his years of leadership and business expertise to the Board of Regents as well as his love for Augsburg and its music tradition,鈥� shared Board Chair Dennis Meyer 鈥�78.

鈥淛ohn鈥檚 passion, vision and generosity in creating the Schwartz School of the Arts ensures that the arts will be accessible for all and continue to transform students’ lives at Augsburg,鈥� said Paula O鈥橪oughlin, provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs. 鈥淚 am grateful to have known such an amazing man. He will be deeply missed.鈥澛�

John firmly believed in the power of a liberal arts education and its ability to set up students for a successful career and a meaningful life. His legacy at Augsburg will be remembered for generations.

Funeral services will be held in Chicago on Saturday, April 27, at 10:30 a.m. at Alice Millar Chapel, Northwestern University, 1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL and in Minneapolis on Saturday, May 4, at 2:00 p.m. at 绿茶直播, Hoversten Chapel, 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454.

Read John’s full .听

Supporting the Next Generation of Artists

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Sheryl SharkSheryl Shark鈥檚 ’82 affection for Augsburg is stronger than ever after four decades, as she recently demonstrated by designating a $1 million estate plan gift to her alma mater as part of its Great Returns: We鈥檙e All In campaign. The musician and actress has long been committed to giving back, and the establishment of the new Schwartz School of the Arts has only fueled that passion. Her previously unrestricted gift will go there instead, ready to help the next generation of artists pursue their dreams.

鈥淚鈥檓 just so excited for it. It also gives me a place to direct my gift that I didn鈥檛 have previously,鈥� says Shark, who graduated with a music degree in 1982 and fully understands that 鈥減eople in the arts are always in need.鈥�

Shark鈥檚 love affair with Augsburg began in the 鈥�70s when she was still a student at Dassel-Cokato High School. Already a music and dance class veteran in her teens, she participated in the annual Minnesota Music Teachers Association contest, held on campus. She recalls playing piano in the old music building, then rumored to be haunted. That is where she met the late Professor Emeritus James D. Johnson, who was not only her contest advisor but also an example of the music guidance Augsburg could provide. She liked his comments and support so much that her college choice became obvious.

鈥淎ugsburg was the only place I applied,鈥� she said.

As a freshman in 1978, Shark attended classes in the old music building for only about a month before moving to the new one, as the ghosts from the old place began making peace with the football field that would replace it. By the end of her sophomore year, Shark was not only happily taking classes but also beginning to register the benefits of a liberal arts education.

鈥淎ll of a sudden everything was connected鈥攈istory to biology to music to physics, even the religion courses鈥攖hey all started tying together. I was not pushed or prodded. I felt like the universe was putting everything together for me. It was the most astounding experience,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose four years at Augsburg were the best years of my life.鈥�

Not that more recent years have been less than great, she is quick to point out. She began playing piano and teaching in Montana, then spent most of her career in southern California, where she discovered that performing for nonprofit fundraisers in famous venues such as the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel was the most enjoyable as well as financially advantageous way to use her talents. She had always intended to return home to Minnesota, however, and recently moved to Wayzata, where she enjoys the walkability, the restaurants and coffee shops, and the chance to take acting classes and participate in the many artistic events available here.

Shark visited campus in April, noting that it seemed twice as large as it used to be. It has moved west, and the old, rundown houses have been replaced by beautiful new buildings, she says. Soon the Schwartz School of the Arts will house a dozen undergraduate majors in the performing and visual arts, as well as a master鈥檚 program in music therapy.

聽鈥淚 used to go to Broadway and look at the playbill, which always included at least one actor from a famous liberal arts college on the East Coast. 鈥業 should have gone there,鈥� I used to think,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ow I鈥檓 thrilled to know that Augsburg is going to have that kind of program. I hope it brings in another group of students who don鈥檛 have to look at Julliard, who can be based in the Midwest. So many wonderful places are here鈥攖he Guthrie, the Chanhassen, Mixed Blood, etc.鈥攁nd for the size of our cities, that鈥檚 rare.鈥�

Learn more about Augsburg鈥檚聽Great Returns听肠补尘辫补颈驳苍.

AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES JOHN N. SCHWARTZ 鈥�67 SCHOOL OF THE 绿茶直播

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Repost from the News and Media page

绿茶直播 announced today the creation of the John N. Schwartz 鈥�67 School of the Arts, a destination arts hub for music, theater, and art and design. An estate gift from Augsburg alumnus John N. Schwartz 鈥�67 will establish the school.

鈥淲ith their power to connect, illuminate, break boundaries, and build relationships, the arts have been a vital part of Augsburg鈥檚 mission and community life for more than 150 years,鈥� said University President Paul C. Pribbenow. 鈥淎t a time when support for the arts in public life and education has become contingent and vulnerable, Augsburg is tremendously grateful for John Schwartz鈥檚 visionary leadership in establishing an institutional home for music, theater, and art for many future generations of students.鈥�

The Schwartz School of the Arts will house Augsburg鈥檚 12 undergraduate majors in the performing and visual arts, as well as the master of music therapy program. Students and faculty in the departments of theater, music, and art and design will have new and greater opportunities for interdisciplinary, collaborative work across disciplines, including with other areas of the university.

鈥淲e believe that a standalone arts school at a place like Augsburg鈥攁 university with deep commitments to access and equity, and one of the most diverse institutions in the upper Midwest鈥攚ill send a strong message to potential students that the arts are for everyone. Your gifts are valued here,鈥� said Paula O鈥橪oughlin, provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs.

The performing and visual arts at Augsburg have long reflected the university鈥檚 mission in the commitments to artistic excellence, intentional diversity, civic engagement, and social justice embodied in each discipline. The new school is a refinement to the university鈥檚 institutional structure following the change from Augsburg College to 绿茶直播 in 2017. It also aligns with Augsburg鈥檚 role as an anchor institution in the Cedar-Riverside community of Minneapolis.

鈥淭he Schwartz School of the Arts will be a key venue for Augsburg to explore with our neighbors and our students how to build and expand access to cultural assets,鈥� said Pribbenow.

As an undergraduate, John Schwartz sang baritone in the Augsburg choir, igniting a love of choral music that persisted throughout his 40-year career as a healthcare executive in Milwaukee, Oregon, Montana, and Chicago.

鈥淢y experiences at Augsburg are a perfect example of how a well-rounded liberal arts education provides a pathway not just to a career but to a full and meaningful life,鈥� said Schwartz. 鈥淲hether singing in a choral ensemble, performing in a theater production, or sculpting in the studio, the arts provide opportunities to grow and connect that don鈥檛 exist anywhere else. With this new school, Augsburg is clearly stating that the performing and visual arts are central to our mission.鈥�

A current member of Augsburg鈥檚 Board of Regents, Schwartz has long supported Augsburg music students. His previous gifts to the university established the Leland B. Sateren 鈥�35 professorship and chair of music, the John N. Schwartz professor of choral leadership and conducting, and the John N. Schwartz and James A. Mosley scholarship.

The Schwartz School of the Arts is one of a number of transformational outcomes of Augsburg鈥檚 ongoing聽Great Returns: We鈥檙e All In聽comprehensive fundraising campaign. With a goal to raise $125 million, it is the largest such campaign in Augsburg history.

About Augsburg

绿茶直播 offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to approximately 3,200 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and nearby Rochester, Minnesota, location. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings. To learn more, visit聽.