OBITUARY: U.S. Army Veteran Walter W. Schwartz, Jr. (Wally) Died Peacefully in Melbourne at 89

moved to Brevard in 1989 where he served as performer and set construction director at Surfside Playhouse

Walter W. Schwartz, Jr. (Wally) died peacefully in Melbourne, Florida, with his wife of 29 years, Kathleen (Kate), and his daughter-in-law, Cori Kellner, by his side.

What an amazing life he lived in his 89 years! Born in Washington, DC, Wally grew up on Capitol Hill, living in the hotels that his father managed. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School on Capitol Hill, Gonzaga College High School, and The Catholic University of America, where he earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Drama, mentored by the famous Rev. Gilbert Hartke. Wally also became a life-long fan of the football team now known as the Commanders.

Wally enlisted in the Army, where he served in counterintelligence for 27 years. His overseas tours included two in Germany, and one each in Vietnam (during Tet) and Vicenza, Italy. His stateside assignments included several at the Pentagon.

He retired with the rank of Captain. During his Army career, he continued to perform and direct in community theatres, including Soldiers’ Theatre in Vicenza, Italy. Upon retiring from the Army, Wally pursued a teaching career in drama and the humanities, including at Paul VI High School in Fairfax, VA, and later at several community colleges in central Florida, including what is now Eastern Florida State College.

In 1989, he moved to Brevard County, Florida, on the Space Coast, where he served as both a performer and set construction director at Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach. His support and dedication to Surfside continued throughout the rest of his life.

He also gave drama coaching to some of Kate’s students at Edgewater High School in Orlando, performed in the first Zora Neale Hurston festival, was assistant director for a Shakespeare acting program for at-risk youth, taught kindergarteners ESOL, started a little theatre group at St. Mary’s in Rockledge where Kate was principal, and played Santa Claus anywhere he was asked.

Throughout his life, he tried to live the motto of his Jesuit high school, Gonzaga, which is “Men for Others.”

He returned to Washington in 2002, where his wife, Kathleen, served as assistant superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Washington. In 2004, Wally resumed his counterintelligence career when he worked for the FBI as an analyst, then later worked as an intelligence consultant for a company assisting with projects at the CIA.

He returned to Florida in 2008 when his wife became Director of Education for the Catholic Diocese of Venice in Florida, living in Lakewood Ranch with their beloved golden retriever, Murphy. Upon Kate’s retirement in 2014, they moved back to Brevard County, Florida, and lived oceanside in Indian Harbour Beach.

Wally and his first wife, the late Virginia (Ginny) Oswald Schwartz, had five amazing children who will greatly miss him: Mary Ryngaert (Mike), Richard Schwartz, Anne Thorne (Chris), Libby Riker, and Clare Schwartz (Adam Samuel). Wally was blessed with six grandchildren and six great-granddaughters. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Kathleen (Kate) McGuigan Kellner Schwartz. Wally is also mourned by his two stepsons, Kevin Kellner (Jennifer) and Christopher Kellner (Cori), and three step-grandchildren.

A visitation and eulogy followed by a funeral Mass will be held at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church on Monday, September 15, at 11 a.m.

Full military honors will be given at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims, Florida, on Tuesday, September 16, at 1:30 p.m. A suggested alternative to flowers would be a donation made in his memory to Surfside Playhouse at 301 Ramp Rd., Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931, or to Gonzaga College High School, 19 Eye St., NW, Washington, DC 2000.

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