Richard "Dick" C Schwartz Jr.

Richard ("Dick") Cuyler Schwartz Jr. of Newport passed away at home on August 13, 2017, at the age of 78, surrounded by his adoring family. Dick was born in Buffalo, New York on April 22, 1939, the only child of Lillian Anne Schwartz and Richard Cuyler Schwartz Sr. Dick spent his childhood in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended the University of Maryland until he was drafted in 1961. Dick served with the U.S. Army with the NATO forces in Germany until 1963. Dick was well-known to many as the owner of the Whale's Tale Restaurant, which opened in 1976 on the Bayfront as a casual deli and over its 30 year history grew to become a local institution. The Whale's Tale offered an eclectic and global menu that featured local seafood specialties, sandwiches, soups, and desserts - all prepared from scratch in house, many from his own recipes. A committed art collector, Dick adorned the walls of the restaurant with watercolors, photographs, prints, paintings and sculpture by local artists. Designed like the galley of a ship, hand crafted wooden tables provided a gathering place for the community and the raised stage often featured local musicians and artists on weekends. Colorful flags hanging from the rafters represented the many places Dick traveled over the years. He would often drop off a special pastry or dessert to regulars and regale visitors with bits of local history and trivia, many of whom became lifelong friends. The iconic knotwork in the windows and the flowers in the window boxes reflected the strong connection he shared with this part of the world and the people who loved it as much as he did. He sold the Whale's Tale and retired in October 2005. Dick was an excellent chef, cooking elaborate and delicious meals for friends and family alike, and accrued a cookbook collection to rival that of Cordon Bleu. He was an avid and impressive historian and was fascinated by all things maritime and military. Dick was known for his ready laugh, slightly off color one liners, a devilish twinkle in his eye and his love of good food, wine and strong women. According to his high school reunion biography, Dick was the "founder" of "Father Richard's Home for Fallen Angels and Wayward Girls" and the "author" of "Political Correctness: How to Avoid It" and "Care and Feeding of the American Trophy Wife". In his retirement he served on the boards of the Pacific Maritime and Heritage Center, the Oregon Coast History Center, and the Yaquina River Museum of Art. He was also a successful armchair day trader, a member of the Yaquina Bay Yacht Club, Tall Timbers Gun Club, the Oregon State Police Park Patrol, and the Central Coast Orchid Society. He traveled extensively and particularly loved traveling in Europe. Dick is survived by and will be dearly missed by his loyal partner of 28 years Beth Mallory; his son, Nicolas Cuyler Kelly-Schwartz of Oakland, California; his daughter Alexia Caitlin Kelly-Schwartz and her husband Lach Litwer, their children Rowan Cuyler Kelly Litwer (2 years) and Ila Sarah Kelly Litwer (3 months), all of Hood River, Oregon; and his step daughter Corina Mallory of McCall, Idaho. A memorial will be held for Dick on October 28th at the St. John's Episcopal Church at 110 Alder Street in Toledo, Oregon. The Service will begin at 2:00 pm and be followed by a celebration of life.

Tributes

Richard "Dick" C Schwartz Jr.

April 22, 1939 - August 13, 2017