“If family is defined by generosity, loyalty and constancy, Mark constructed a family of many. Yet, we knew with certainty that the three of us were at Mark’s center. He fell in love with each of us in order: Tina, Sophie + Emma. Just as surely, we loved our man in black. Together, it has been a hilarious, exhilarating ride. We will miss you forever.
M + T = S + E.”
Photo Submitted by Herb Ascherman (1981)
Photo Submitted by Herb Ascherman (1981)
Photo Submitted by Herb Ascherman (1981)
Photo Submitted by Herb Ascherman (1981)
Photo Submitted by Herb Ascherman (1981)
Photo Submitted by Scott Heller
Photo Submitted by Olivia Chartier
Photo Submitted by Sarah Kracke
Photo Submitted by Laura Ruth Bidwell
Photo Submitted by Howard Agriesti
Photo Submitted by Howard Agriesti
Photo Submitted by Howard Agriesti
Photo Submitted by Howard Agriesti
Photo Submitted by Howard Agriesti
Photo Submitted by Howard Agriesti
Photo Submitted by Howard Agriesti
Photo Submitted by Howard Agriesti
Photo Submitted by Laura Ruth Bidwell
Photo Submitted by Greg Oznowich
Photo Submitted by Greg Oznowich
Photo Submitted by Kaitlin Pethtel
Photo Submitted by Kaitlin Pethtel
Photo Submitted by Kaitlin Pethtel
Photo Submitted by Michelle Moehler (2004)
Photo Submitted by Michelle Moehler (2005)
Photo Submitted by Michelle Moehler (2002)
Photo Submitted by Chloe Koslen
Photo Submitted by Sara Hollabaugh
Photo Submitted by Maude Schuyler Clay
Photo Submitted by Lois Conner
Photo by Mark Schwartz
Photo by Mark Schwartz
Photo by Mark Schwartz
Photo by Mark Schwartz
Photo by Mark Schwartz
Photo by Mark Schwartz
Photo by Mark Schwartz
Photo by Mark Schwartz
Photo by Mark Schwartz
I want to add briefly to Lee's words below. Lee and I wore black today in Mark's honor because of his love of black and white.
But let's always cherish his colorful use of language. He added the diverse colors of humor, wit, passion, and candor to our lives.
Tina, Sophie and Emma,
You are such wonderful people and a beautiful legacy. I know you will continue to support one another and use your positive energy for good, helping others, as you always have. I feel lucky our paths have met up. You are true blessings for the world. Please know I am so sorry you must endure this pain and I'm here for you. I cherish the memories of our times together and long to have more.
Peggy and I attended Mark's memorial celebration this morning and were reminded time and again how much we loved and admired Mark....and Tina. Fred Bidwell, Dave Bergholz, Greg Oznowich, Toby Lewis, Olivia Chartier, and Scott Chaikin spoke beautifully for all of us. "He filled the frame.....we experienced his loyalty and generosity.....he set the bar higher...perfectly imperfect....excellence without compromise.....uncompromisingly human....master of big fat ideas....always working toward smart.....master of the grand and little gesture.... underdog supporter....passion for social justice.....lived life with gusto, died with grace...." Mark supported me in all my campaigns for public office, but more than that, he and Tina always were, in his words, "all in." Although he and Tina always made the maximum possible contribution, he always did it in unforgettable pieces. A contribution of $3,690.80, followed weeks later by $2,459.75, followed by another equally odd and seemingly random amount; and always on his credit card so it was quick, efficient, and he could get his airline miles. As was said so well in the memorial service, Mark taught us to laugh louder, swear more, say what we think, and live without compromise. Mark, thank you for dazzling us with your life, love, example, and friendship.
Mark and Tina were among the first couples we met prior to our arrival in Cleveland. Our first meeting was a formal interview dinner, where Mark and Tina were one couple among five, who had assembled to interview candidates for the position of Chief Curator at the Cleveland Museum of Art. We were seated with Mark and Tina. They were genuine, curious, smart, and clearly committed to seeing the museum succeed. For them, support of the museum was driven not by social status, but by a conviction that art mattered. What I remember most from that first encounter with Mark was how refreshingly open, bombastic, and ambitious he was as a trustee. Mark believed in the power of art to open our eyes to the world around us, he believed that Cleveland could distinguish itself through its cultural organizations, and he and Tina used their philanthropy to make the things they cared about happen. Mark was also a believer in the importance of passion and vision, a supporter of living artists, and curious about the world. Mark took an interest in you, your work, your family, he was fully engaged. There was nothing half-assed about Mark. He would call you on it if he felt you were dialing it in, because he believed that if something was worth doing, you should give it everything you had. He felt the same way about organizations. Mark was demanding in the best possible way. We will miss Mark, and will we carry his passions and convictions out into the world, holding closely the lessons he taught us.
My favorite memories of Mark are centered on when he would tease me about all things Jewish. That was part of the way he showed his love. But he took a special joy, it seemed, when he could mock some religious observance that I followed.
Years ago, we were flying to New York on a 6:30 am flight and had been upgraded to first class. The flight attendants set about serving the meal. Mark was enjoying a mimosa and a fluffy mini croissant when they brought my kosher meal -- a frozen salami sandwich. He nearly choked from laughing so hard.
More than 20 years later, when we hadn't seen each other for a long time, I was standing in the Continental lounge at Hopkins. As the bartender was asking for my order, a voice came over my shoulder, "He's having a frozen deli sandwich." It was wonderful to see him.
When I met Mark for my interview, I experienced his bold and direct approach for the very first time. I knew immediately that this wasn’t going to be any “ordinary” job.
After 9 years of working together, I’ve seen him in a room as the center of attention at his best—and when his Apple devices were not cooperating—at his worst. Sometimes I wonder why we put up with each other, but then I realize we were always fighting for the best solution. He was always willing to go to the mat for his ideas. I would inevitably tap out, but each time we learned a little more from each other and eventually we started to wrestle problems together. Underneath the ass aches was a lot of respect. He told me we made a good team because “I remember everything, and Shawn forgets everything.”
The only way I can describe losing Mark is like living in a world without gravity. He was a force in every room he entered. His energy and passion was palpable and constant. I can’t believe he’s really gone. Somehow we will move forward and find a new way of doing things in this world without gravity.
I’m going to miss our lunches at Slymans, and even our occasional “come to Jesus” meetings. Thanks for making the last 9 years extraordinary.
Because Mark was a lover of the arts, I was introduced to the Cleveland Film Festival. His generosity allowed my husband and me to go from mainstream Hollywood flicks to independent, subtitled, Chinese movies about a man and his cow. For this…I will always remember and be grateful to Mark.
Mark was a constant presence in our life in Cleveland for eight years. He, along with Tina and Emma and Sophie were a part of our "Cleveland family." Tina and I were pregnant at the same time - she with Emma and me with Leo and our kids all grew up together in the early years. Mark was always teasing Sophie, Emma and Leo, and while they protested, really enjoyed tremendously. One year we all went to Florida together, where Mark proceeded to moon us all in the pool screaming humpback whale, humpback whale. We all laughed hysterically - it was such a typical Mark moment - so funny and such an outrageous gesture - the type of humor that we always expected from Mark that made us laugh so hard, we cried. His brand of humor, fun and intelligence is such a rare combination, we will all miss him terribly.
On my coffee table is a little book of photography that Mark made. Taken during his family trip last year, the photos capture the beauty in the ceilings of Italy. In his inscription to me, he penned, "Never forget to look up." I am looking up, my friend. And when I do, I will think of you, and how you touched me.
They say that there is nothing more challenging than shooting an assignment for another photographer. When I worked with Mark he would offer his opinion on the best way to approach a shoot. He would critique my work during the job and he might even show up on location to “guide” me. Mark loved the process of making pictures and I knew photography would always be the most important design element for every project that we worked on. Mark knew how to push you to provide the best work possible.
Many years ago Mark asked me to provide photography for the Laurel School admissions materials and together we established a photographic style that showed off the students as intelligent and inquisitive young ladies. The view books turned into one of the most fulfilling projects of my career as we had the opportunity to photographic many of the same girls first as kindergartners, then teenagers, and finally as college graduates. Leave it to Mark to turn a commercial project into a photographic essay. We both believed in the school so much that Mark’s daughters and my daughter became Laurel students and graduates. Thank you Mark, you will be missed.
“Mark Schwartz, the Cleveland graphic designer whose firm, Nesnadny + Schwartz, earned a national reputation over the past 30 years, died Sunday at the Cleveland Clinic at age 57 after a brief battle with cancer.”
“Goodbye, boss. We’ll miss your vitality, your political tenacity, your philanthropic generosity, your love of family, your lust for life, your humor, your mind, and the creative light you so generously shared.”
Does that handwriting look familiar? Could it be...? “This man who we have never seen before tipped her 1000 dollars for a trip to Italy. Walked out, not another word.”
“With Schwartz behind the wheel of his black Range Rover and Maria in back, Friedlander aimed his Hasselblad camera through the windshield at the ArcelorMittal plant, houses in Slavic Village and other subjects.”
“Three years ago, a representative from Clestra Hauserman’s Cleveland office heard about Nesnadny + Schwartz walking away with 10 of the 38 awards presented that year by the Cleveland Advertising Association.”
“Schwartz tends to attract clients who may have different backgrounds, personalities and professions but believe, as N+S does, that the work comes first—and that a little ruckus is part of the creative process.”
