Brady Bunch 's Sherwood Schwartz - May Your Memory Be A Blessing to Everyone You Touched

Remembrances

This Post is Dedicated to the Memory of

Sherwood Schwartz

November 14, 1916 - July 12, 2011

Today I attended the memorial service and traditional Jewish burial of Sherwood Schwartz, the father of Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch among many other entertainment creations.  Almost everyone growing up in the 60s watched at least one episode of one or both of those unforgettable TV series, both which he created, wrote, and produced.

When I was a child, Mr. Schwartz wrote me a very kind letter which expressed his great kindness and care about children.  I was head of my local Brady Bunch Fan Club on the East Coast then.  I have always treasured that precious letter on Paramount stationery and I always will.

As a grown up today, I was feeling over run with sadness when I first arrived. But that soon evolved into remembering how this man has given so much joy to so many people with his talents in television and writing.

At the memorial service preceding burial, Mr. Schwartz's love of family was apparent as each of his 4 children spoke.  Several of his very talented grandchildren sang or recalled what they loved best about him, too.  A few beautiful songs were sung by family and many jokes were told during the family member's eulogies.


Mr. Schwartz would have wanted this send off no other way.  This truly was an event celebrating a life lived well.

I also was quite struck by the warmth and kindnesses that he extended to and that were returned by many of his friends who came to give their final respects -- Monty Hall and Robert Young, to name a few.  

There were also many members of his Brady TV family -- close in age to Schwartz's own children -- there to celebrate this entertainment industry legend. Among those who came to mourn this great loss were: Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick, Mike Lookinland, and Susan Olsen.  And other luminaries from the Golden Age of television in the late 1950s-70s. In the crowd, I even noticed a few of Mr. Schwartz's most devoted fans who came to say goodbye.

Mr. Schwartz touched many: his family, friends, and fans -- he certainly made an impact on my own life.  May his family find solace now as we all bid farewell to him for the last time.  Most importantly, may his memory live on in each of us who knew him.

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