J. Donald Schwab

J. Donald Schwab, age 89, of Erie, a life-long resident of Erie County, died May 10, 2017. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Frances Schwab, and a son, Mark Schwab.

Don graduated from Millcreek High School, served in the United States Navy and graduated Gannon College in 1951.

He was a co-founder of the Erie CPA firm Brown Schwab Bergquist & Co. He was very active in the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, having served as President of the Erie Chapter in 1970-71. In subsequent years he served on the PICPA governing Council and Executive Committee, served as President of PICPA in 1982-83 and was appointed to the governing Council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He retired from the practice of accounting in 1997.

He served as a member and as President of the Board of Education of the Girard School District in the 1970's and initiated and chaired the statewide Committee for Local Educational Control.

He was a parishioner of St. Julia Church where he had served as a member and President of the Church Council and as a member of the Parish Finance Committee.  He was active in the Cursillo Movement of the Diocese of Erie.

He served on the Saint Vincent Foundation Board of Corporators and was a volunteer for Metro Erie Meals on Wheels and Penn Lakes Girl Scout Council.

He was a member of the Erie Yacht Club and a former member of the Lake Shore Country Club, Aviation Club of Erie and the Erie Maennerchor.

Don loved family activities and enjoyed sailing, golf, tennis, hunting, euchre and jazz.

He is survived by Jane (Weidler) Schwab, his wife of 66 years; and their children, Amy (Ken) Elder of Fonthill, Ontario; Nancy (David) Lapointe of Ocean Springs, MS (granddaughter Sarah and step-grandchildren David, Aaron and Rachel); Laura Dollinger of Spring City, PA  (grandchildren Anna, Claudia and Lloyd); John (Maria) Schwab of Mars, PA (granddaughters Angela and Erica) and one brother, Ralph Schwab of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is also survived by grandchildren Jennifer, Kristen, Colin and Delaney (children of Mark) and great grandchildren Tyler, Dylan and Connor, and several nieces and nephews. 

The family would like to thank Regional Home Health and Hospice for their excellent service, care and concern.                                                                                             

Friends may call at the Burton Funeral Home 3801 West 26^th Street, Erie, PA 16506 on Friday, May 12^th from 2-4 and 6-8pm and are invited to attend a prayer service there on Saturday, May 13^th, 2017 at 9:30 am on followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at St. Julia Church.

Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania – Hawthorne Ridge, 5681 Rte 6N, Edinboro, PA, 16412 or St. Julia Church, 638 Roslyn Ave., Erie, PA 16505 or Cursillo Movement of the Erie Diocese, 429 East Grandview Blvd, P.O. Box 10397, Erie, PA 16514.