Tough as nails, incredibly kind-hearted and one-of-a-kind. These all describe Harry Emil Schwartz, who passed away on January 20, 2024. Harry was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on August 11, 1939 and he packed a lot into his 84 years. His beloved mother owned Helen’s Tap Room, a pub in Essington. It catered to the workers at the adjacent Westinghouse factory as well as a young Harry who grew up playing darts and drinking beer from an early age (no one checked IDs at Helen’s Tap Room). At the age of 18, he got a job with a Chevrolet dealer near Philadelphia. This was the beginning of his lifelong career as an auto technician.

In 1962, Harry enlisted as a private in the US Army Reserves. He spent six years with the reserves and worked his way up to Motor Pool Sergeant before being honorably discharged.

In 1964, he decided to migrate to California and his mother told him to “look up” her friend’s daughter, Valentina, when he got there. It was a good suggestion and they eventually got married. Harry and Tina settled in Norco and raised two amazing kids, H. Michael Schwartz and Michell Valentina (Schwartz) Lopez. During this time, Harry worked as a manager for De Anza Chevrolet and Riverside AMC dealerships. However, his entrepreneurial spirit wasn’t satisfied so in November 1976 he opened his own business, Federal Auto Body, in Norco. Tina and Michael both joined the business with Tina handling bookkeeping and Michael and his cousins, Rob and Rich, sorting auto parts. Harry was a tough businessman and told the boys their compensation would be free food from the “Roach Coach” that came by every day to deliver food. Harry quickly realized he was losing too much money with the deal so he renegotiated, offering to pay them 25¢ an hour and sold them on the experience they would get. Harry taught them all aspects of the business, which would help the three of them become the businessmen they are today.

Harry also coached youth sports (particularly for his daughter, Michell, who was a high school basketball phenom), bowled in a league, challenged and beat just about anyone at darts and honorably took care of everyone he could. Whether it was taking in his sister-in-law and her two boys, helping a friend in need, or moving back to Pennsylvania to take care of his elderly mom, Harry always had room in his heart and would provide for you even when it meant putting his own needs aside.

Later in life, Harry sold insurance and worked for UPS but his love for cars never diminished. He frequently had autos in various states of repair parked on his half-acre lot in Norco. He also earned a reputation as a “fun” grandpa. He loved life and that feeling become contagious when you were with him.

Perhaps his greatest legacy is his eccentricity and his tenacity. Once he had an idea, we could not dissuade him. When he wanted to drive across the country to visit his mom, he decided to chain three cars together…one leading and the other two being towed…in what we called the “Harry Train.” Despite our efforts to tell him this was probably not a sound plan much less legal, he set off from California explaining that “when the lead car breaks down, I’ll just put it on the back and keep going.” He made it as far as Indiana before all three cars were toast.

He is survived by his son and daughter, as well as their spouses, Holly Breaux Schwartz and Cirilo Lopez; four incredible grandchildren: Nicholas Schwartz, Kyra Schwartz, Jaden Lopez and Ryder Lopez; his sister, Ann Hecht; his niece, Kathy Raughley, and her family; his niece, Kim Dufford, and her family; his sister-in-law, Alexandra Bajew; his nephew, Rob Knaskov, and his family; his nephew, Rich Knjazkov, and his family; and his two beloved cats, Ry and Tigger.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 5th at 1:00pm at New Beginnings Community Church in Norco. Harry will be buried with his family in Pennsylvania. 

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