Walter V. Swartz, Jr.

Walter V. Swartz Jr., 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 23, 2022.

He was born on January 15, 1936 to the late Walter V. Swartz, Sr. and Bertha Gaudreau Swartz. Walter was the oldest of four children. His sister Carol Coe lives in Mississippi with her husband Larry. His brother Bob passed away in 1998, leaving behind his wife Mary who lives in New York state. His brother Tom lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Joan.

Walter was born in Bloomfield, NJ and raised in East Hanover, NJ. He graduated from Madison High School and The Cooper Union in New York City where he met some of his dearest and lifelong friends. In 2007, The Cooper Union presented Walter with membership into The Golden Legion for his professional contributions and enhancing the proud name of their alma mater.

Walter was a talented artist and a very successful designer. He began his design career at Helena Rubenstein in New York and Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, and later became the Art Director of the famous Hallmark Gallery on Fifth Avenue where he designed exhibitions and led a product design group. He went on to found his own design company in Montclair, NJ, The Walter Swartz Design Group. For many years, Walter built a reputation as the creative force behind the most incredible Christmas displays and installations for some of the largest shopping centers in the US and Canada.

His design company, located in a beautiful Victorian Tutor-style home in Montclair, was where he created a magnificent, landscaped environment. Friends and neighbors were awed by his abundant plantings and tranquil koi pond. This gorgeous setting is the subject of some of Walter’s most beautiful paintings that adorn the walls of lucky friends and family members, providing lasting memories of the beauty that Walter created while he was with us.

Walter was still in Montclair when his brother Bob gave him his beloved dog Juno, the most amazing Doberman Pincher the world has ever known. This kicked off his lifelong love of this extraordinary breed of dogs. From this point forward, Walter was rarely seen without at least one of these majestic beauties by his side. Many of Walter’s closest friends were people he met through his involvement in breeding and showing his dogs.

In addition to breeding and loving his dogs, he raised Lovebirds and was a passionate beekeeper.

Walter spent many summer weekends sailing his O’Day 22’ around Duxbury Bay, Massachusetts alongside his brother in-law Larry, creating thrills and lasting memories for everyone aboard.

Walter moved to Pleasant Mount, PA in the late 90s along with his sister Carol and her husband Larry where he could be closer to nature and to make more room for his animals that he loved so much. His final days were spent back in Hunterdon County, NJ living next-door to his nephew Matthew and Matthew’s wife, Joanne.

For anyone interested in making a donation in Walter’s honor please visit: https://www.sthuberts.org/tributegifts