Donald M. Swartz

Composer, Donald Swartz dies at 84
Songwriter best known for 'Wall $treet Week'
November 11, 2009

By York Daily Record & York Dispatch


Donald M. Swartz passed away Wednesday, November 11, 2009.
Born on February 7, 1924, in Durham, N.C., Donald Markley Swartz was the elder son of Joel and Virginia Markley Swartz.

Don had a life-long love of music and taught himself to play jazz guitar, playing regularly as a member of a jazz combo on live television in Baltimore, Md.

Don trained as a navigator in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945, and after the war, earned a Bachelor of Physics degree at Johns Hopkins University. He later worked for the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon, and in 1961 served as Deputy Director of the Educational Programs Division of a very young NASA. While at NASA, Don worked with the early astronauts and had the special privilege of accompanying and filming astronaut John Glenn on a good-will tour of Japan.

Don then became the fourth person hired at Maryland Public Television's new Channel 67 in Owings Mills, Md., where he became the head of the music-andeffects department. During his time there he composed the musical scores to countless television productions.

His theme to the popular Wall $treet Week reigned for 33 years - one of the longest running programs in the history of PBS.

In retirement, Don turned to public service in his final hometown of Glen Rock, where he served as a council member and later as mayor. He was instrumental in the inauguration of the annual Glen Rock Street Fair, and was a tireless advocate for the local public library. He also became the third of only three honorary members in the Glen Rock Carolers' organization.

Don is survived by his wife, Janice Dean, his nephews, Bill Swartz, Robert Swartz, and David Deems; and his nieces, Jennifer Brown and Emily Cross. An open house remembrance will be held at the Glen Rock Ambulance Club at 59 Water St. on Sunday, December 6, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Arthur Hufnagel Public Library of Glen Rock.

Published in York Daily Record & York Dispatch on Nov. 22, 2009.
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