Hans (John) Schwarz

Born:	05-24-1914
Faculty:	Medical School | Medical University Vienna
Category:	Expelled student

Hans SCHWARZ, born on May 24^th, 1914 in Moedling/Lower Austria (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Graz/Styria, Citizenship: Austria), son of Dr. Julius Schwarz (physician) and his wife Anna (née Fischer), lived in Moedling, Hauptstrasse 48. After he had graduated from high school ('Bundesrealgymnasium') in Moedling he began to study medicine at the University of Vienna in fall term 1933/34. During his studies he met his future wife Gerta Weiss. After his father’s death the family moved to Vienna 9th district, Pramergasse 31/4, in September 1936. Schwarz was finally enrolled in spring term 1938 at the Medical School of the University of Vienna in the 5^th and last year of his studies (Leaving Certificate ('Abgangszeugnis') was issued on July 12^th, 1938).
His younger sister Helene Schwarz, who studied at the Philosophical School, was also expelled from the University of Vienna. Before the Novemberpogrome ("Kristallnacht"), Hans Schwarz was able to flee to Basel/Switzerland by train together with Gerta Weiss. In Switzerland they married on November 4^th, 1938, and completed their studies at the University of Basel. A short time later, in 1939, they immigrated to the USA together. After their arrival, they ended up in a labor camp in Randolph, New Jersey, for two weeks. Shortly after their release from the camp they moved to Jersey City and then to Hoboken, where John Schwarz completed his medical internship at St. Mary Hospital on Willow Avenue in Hoboken, New Jersey (now Hoboken University Medical Center). Gerta Schwarz first was unable to find work as a physician and worked as a cleaner and a cook to help pay for their food and rent. In 1940, she also took an internship at the same hospital. In 1944 they became naturalized American Citizens and Hans changed his first name to "John". The couple had three children. After a 12 year hiatus from medicine to bring up their three children, Gerta Schwarz returned to her profession as a physician with a residency at the VA hospital in neurology. She passed the State Medical Exams and obtained a residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City in psychiatry. She practiced medicine until the late 1980s.
John Schwarz remained at St. Mary Hospital in New Jersey becoming the Chief of Surgery and eventually the President of the hospital. He was considered a pioneer of treating patients post-surgery after the tumor was removed, and specialized in cancer chemotherapy during the 1950s to 1960s. He also helped patients who wouldn't have financial means by giving them vaccinations and medications for only $ 1. In 1984, after having a heart attack, he retired after 45 years as a successful physician. He then did some contract work for Life Extension doing physical tests for executives. Gerta Schwarz died on November 19^th, 1990 in New Jersey, at the age of 76 years, John Schwarz on 30^th October, 2008 at the age of 94 years.

Lit.: Archive of the University of Vienna/enrollment forms ("Nationale") MED 1933-1938; Vienna City archive, Historical Central Registration of Viennese inhabitants, information 2014; POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 473; Jessica ROSERO, World-class humanitarian Town mourns loss of beloved Dr. Schwarz (obituary), in: Hudson Reporter 2008; information from his daughter Jeanette Schwarz Young, 2014 and 2015.

Katharina Kniefacz