Erik Bittenbring Schwarz's Obituary
September 18, 1947 – February 13, 2017 COVINGTON Erik B. Schwarz, 69, ascended up the “Stairway to Heaven” with his bass guitar and keyboard in hand on February 13, 2017. Erik was a musical prodigy whose multi-instrumentalist talent for playing music led him to become the bass guitarist and keyboard player for The Paper Steamboat, a popular 60’s New Orleans based band. He moved to Upstate New York in the late ‘60s to play music with the legendary Edgar Winter and had the privilege of playing at Woodstock. “They Say It’s Your Birthday” on September 18, 1947, when he was born from the union of Frederic and Elizabeth Schwarz in New Orleans, Louisiana. Erik attended Ecole Classique High School and then matriculated at Louisiana State University in New Orleans (currently UNO) where he received a degree in Psychology.
“A Day in the Life” of Erik consisted of “A Whole Lotta Love,” which was always at the forefront of his heart. He loved to “Lend a Helpin’ Hand” to anyone in need. When St. John’s Catholic Church in Folsom was in need of an organist, Erik was the first to volunteer, continuing there for five years. An avid animal enthusiast, Erik volunteered for over 7 years at St. Francis Animal Sanctuary in Mandeville and 18 years at the Pontchartrain Humane Society in Slidell. He never met an animal he didn’t like! He even kept food on hand for the raccoons and birds because he always said, “There were lots of hungry critters!” Erik’s purpose was to save as many animals as he could.
Above all else, being a father was his greatest passion, a job that came very easy to him because he loved it dearly. He believed that “Time Waits for No One,” so he never put off ‘till tomorrow what he could do today. Nothing was more important to him than being there for his family. He was a man of few words who was kind, extremely patient, and soft-spoken. He always had time to answer a question or solve a problem, which he would do in the most insightful way. Erik was a true believer that “All You Need is Love.” Music, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Audubon Park, trips to the beach, cutting open a fresh watermelon on a summer afternoon, and eating boiled seafood, raw oysters, & Plum Street Snowballs, were some of his favorite past times with family and friends. And, in any times of trouble, his wisdom and optimism would always shine through, with a “Let it Be” or “Que Sera, Sera.”
From tickling the ivory, to punching the keys, Erik was ahead of his time in the 80s, developing highly advanced custom computer systems for companies including 7-up & Dixie Beer. Then, he served St. Tammany Parish for 17 years, as the application programmer and software developer for the St. Tammany Parish Assessor’s Office. Erik founded New Orleans Soft Solutions and created a one-of-a-kind report generator and a specialized system for glucose monitoring for diabetics.
Erik was preceded in death by father, Frederic Schwarz and mother, Elizabeth Bittenbring Schwarz of New Orleans. Erik is survived by his daughters Erika Schwarz Wright (Johnny) & Sheryl Zylicz Logue; his grandchildren Johnny and Gabrielle Wright, Lauren Lecompte & Mason Logue; his former wife, Patricia Schwarz Core; his siblings Elizabeth Schwarz Goodgion (Anthony) of Belle Chase, Frederic Schwarz (Peggy) of Braithwaite & Caecilie Schwarz of New Orleans; his nephews David and Christopher Holloway, Graeme Schwarz and Carl Goodgion; his nieces Stacy Schwarz, Julia & Joanna Goodgion; and his 8 best feline friends, Zeke, Chance, Velvet, Pepper, Olive, Louise, Momma Cat, & Samantha.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Service at 3:00 PM on Friday, March 3, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1 North Marigold Drive, Covington, LA 70433. Visitation on Friday, March 3 from 2:00 PM to service time. Interment will take place at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens.
Erik will be dearly missed by all. His friends and family are invited to “Come Together” for a musical celebration of his life at a Memorial Fundraiser to benefit St. Francis Animal Sanctuary and Pontchartrain Humane Society on Friday March 3 from 6:30pm-9:30pm at Maison-Lafitte, 402 Lafitte St, Mandeville, LA 70448. Because of his love for animals, donations are appreciated to benefit these organizations.
Please visit https://www.gofundme.com/erikschwarz-memorialfundraiser or send donations made payable to either St. Francis Animal Sanctuary or Pontchartrain Humane Society to Erika Schwarz Wright 9145 Narcoossee Rd #106-167 Orlando, FL 32827.
E.J. Fielding Funeral Home entrusted with the arrangements. Please share a memory on the tribute wall at ejfieldingfh.com.
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