Joseph Jay Schwartz

Aug. 29, 1950 - Feb. 18, 2025

Joseph Jay Schwartz died on February 18, 2025 in Eugene, OR after an 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He bravely passed away surrounded by his family. Jay was born August 29, 1950 in Los Angeles, CA to Doyne and Joseph Schwartz. His brother David was born in December 1952. His father passed away suddenly in 1956, and the family eventually moved to Canby, OR in December 1960. Doyne remarried and Jay's sister Linda was born in 1961. Jay graduated from Canby High School before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served for two years. Jay had a varied and interesting professional life. He was a metalworker at General Metalcraft, Portland; a fine woodworker at Nova Diversified, Portland; an attorney assistant in Scottsdale, AZ; manager at Fountain of Juice, Eugene; and the owner of Cascade Batik Shirts, Eugene. Jay met his future wife Ann Reynolds in 1994 and proposed on the Big Island of Hawaii in the winter 1996. They were married later that year in Eugene. Jay sold Cascade Batik Shirts that same year and joined Ann at her company Jaguar Art Glass. Together they built a very successful business. For many years, Jay and Ann were regular and beloved fixtures at the Saturday Market and Holiday Market in Eugene, as well as the Oregon Country Fair in Veneta. Jay and Ann closed Jaguar Art Glass and retired in December 2023. Jay was an avid poker player, a fine woodworker, an automotive enthusiast, a skilled rock climber, a good skier and was a runner for many years. Over the years, he also enjoyed renovating their house with "Schwartz" innovations and custom constructions. He was also an animal lover sharing time with a number of canine and feline family members. Jay is survived by his loving wife, Ann Schwartz; his siblings David Schwartz of West Linn, OR and Linda Deos of Davis, CA. Other family members include Ann's son Trevor Reynolds of Eugene; his granddaughter Jillian Reynolds; nephew Morgan Schwartz of Hillsboro, OR; niece Marissa Schwartz of Ashland, OR; nephew Robert Schwartz of Chicago, IL; and former wife Brenda River of Portland, OR. The family will host a celebration of Jay's life in June 2025.