Seymour (Sy) Schwartz

(Adapted from the Democrat & Chronicle – part of the USA Today Network)

The world-famous surgeon (and past WMS member) Seymour (Sy) Schwartz died on August 28, 2020 at age 92. He co-wrote and edited the seminal textbook used to educate and train generations of medical students.  Along with five other authors, Dr. Schwartz wrote the textbook that became Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery; it is often referred to as the surgeon’s Bible The first edition was 1,850 pages and 52 chapters. It is now in its 11th edition and has been published in multiple languages. But he also was a Renaissance man from an early age, a talented actor as a child who, in addition to his eminent medical career, became a world-renowned cartographer. His late wife Ruth introduced her husband to cartography in 1963, because she said he needed a hobby — something to take his focus off surgery. She brought him home a book of maps, and he discovered his new love and obsession. He became a rabid collector and authored six books on the subject.  His most notable cartographic publications include The Mapping of America, This Land is Your Land: The Geographic Evolution of the United States, Mis-Mapping of America, and Putting "America" on the Map.  That led to his stints on the boards of the Museum of American History and the Smithsonian Institution. He also served on the advisory board at the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.  The University of Rochester now maintains a collection of his maps and artifacts at the Dr. Ruth W. Schwartz and Dr. Seymour I. Schwartz Collection in the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation.

(See more at  https://amp.democratandchronicle.com/amp/5662079002 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_I._Schwartz . and https://www.today.com/video/-principles-of-surgery-founding-editor-dr-seymour-schwartz-dies-at-92-91193925905 ).