Gary's Scholarship

Story

In memory of Gary Schwartz 1944-2015This scholarship fund is established in memory of Gary Schwartz, husband, friend, colleague, teacher and cheerleader. Thank you for accessing this site which celebrates an important aspect of Gary’s life: his role supporting the development of novice but promising students of visual arts. This fund will be directed to assist these individuals in their pursuit of Visual Arts Education through the awarding of acedemic scholarships. Gary had a remarkable gift of not only recognizing an individual’s talent but encouraging, cajoling and challenging that individual to believe in their talent and capitalize on it. He was generous in sharing with promising photographers and AV specialists his knowledge, experience and vast array of equipment. He was a life long learner and natural teacher who celebrated as friends, children of friends, students, and even strangers, discovered the right camera or lens or photographic technique. He loved to connect with people and to know how they saw the world and figure out how, together, they could enhance their photographic worlds. In 1990, Gary joined UBC’s Sauder School of Business (Faculty of Commerce) and his AV Specialist position provided him the opportunity to support faculty and student projects and productions and he enthusiastically facilitated their success. He valued his relationships with staff and faculty like Dan Gardner, Wendy Bishop, Brian Graham , Ellen McIntosh to name only a few. Gary was fortunate to be involved in numerous creative and challenging programs at Sauder and he brought to each of these a competence and enthusiasm that was energizing and reassuring. His role at UBC also offered amazing opportunities to work with international students from places like Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Taiwan. Those meetings not only allowed Gary to show off Canada and Vancouver but also to receive and accept invitations to see their countries. Indeed, he maintained connection with Joyce in Hong Kong and Christie, who invited him to toast the bride at her Taiwanese wedding in Taiwan (an invitation he accepted) and Pin Hua Chiu, who later became his goddaughter. Gary formed a long, professional relationship with Joanna Piros at Counterpoint Communications. He greatly admired Joanna’s innovative presentations and style and loved to watch her audience transform from novice to confident and clear communicators. He seized on the opportunity to be even a small part of the smart, tech-savvy Counterpointe video crew and was delighted to add his perspective to their repertoire. His theatre work was an amazing experience. He formed long lasting, wonderful relationships with many theatre colleagues: Judi Price, Leslie Whittaker, Margaret Lee and Fran Heaney to name a very few. As theatre photographer, Gary would take thousands of photos of a play during rehearsal and then spend days whittling this down to 200 perfect pictures that captured the flow of the play and the role of the actors. For every play, he designed a unique DVD cover and occasionally wondered whether the actors, directors and producers noticed. Just as in photography, Gary loved to be a part of an actor’s success, responding to and providing the best head shots for their portfolios. He thrilled to connect promising young actors with friends and colleagues who would work with them to enhance and advance their careers. Interestingly, he also connected the parents with parents of successful actors so that they could learn about the acting journey. For many colleagues and friends, Gary became the “go to” guy for photography and information about photography and other AV topics. He responded quickly to requests for head shots or transfer of video to DVD or to photographing a special event. On one occasion, he even photographed a wedding, a unique event for Sandy and Doug. He happily loaned people books, DVDs, cameras, lenses and a myriad of other media paraphernalia. He had frequent requests to help select a digital camera or to assist someone’s child to learn about cameras and photography. Brian’s daughter Christie, Joanna’s daughter Isabella, and Trudy and Jamie’s daughter Danielle are three examples of young people mentored by Gary. He thrived on these teaching opportunities and celebrated as the “student” transformed from “happy snap” shooter to an accomplished photographer. Gary shared a multitude of tips and techniques with these individuals but more importantly, he happily outfitted them with one of his cameras and / or lenses so they could practice their art and inform their eventual purchase decision. Gary continued to support his protégés and just recently, provided Christie, now a very successful wedding photographer, with a film camera as she looks for new photographic opportunities. And just last year, he and Danielle completed a book of photographs of their Quebec trip. And on his very last assignment, Isabella was his photographic partner. Gary’s enthusiasm for photography infused many aspects of his life. For instance, he and his financial advisor chatted about cameras and once again, Gary recognized an interest and talent. He quickly offered to lend him a telephoto lens for a basketball shoot and thrilled at the results, later ensured that he take a very wide angle lens on a trip down the Oregon Coast. And then there were folks like Tanya Verret, who happened to be selecting her camera when Gary was at the camera store. Gary freely offered advise and tips about cameras and later invited her to observe and participate in a photographic theatre production. In all his relationships, Gary was quick and generous in his praise of an individual’s talent, carefully highlighting their specific strengths. And, he challenged them to aim higher, patiently explaining next steps, methods and techniques to build on their existing talent. It is in this spirit that a schoalrship has been established to assist talented and promising high school students in in their pursuit of Visual Arts education. Thank you again for accessing the site and please know that Gary cherished your relationship and would challenge you to continue to develop your special talent and to be most generous in sharing it with others.

Donazione protetta

In memory of Gary Schwartz 1944-2015

This scholarship fund is established in memory of Gary Schwartz, husband, friend, colleague, teacher and cheerleader. Thank you for accessing this site which celebrates an important aspect of Gary’s life: his role supporting the development of novice but promising students of visual arts. This fund will be directed to assist these individuals in their pursuit of Visual Arts Education through the awarding of acedemic scholarships.

Gary had a remarkable gift of not only recognizing an individual’s talent but encouraging, cajoling and challenging that individual to believe in their talent and capitalize on it. He was generous in sharing with promising photographers and AV specialists his knowledge, experience and vast array of equipment. He was a life long learner and natural teacher who celebrated as friends, children of friends, students, and even strangers, discovered the right camera or lens or photographic technique.

He loved to connect with people and to know how they saw the world and figure out how, together, they could enhance their photographic worlds.

In 1990, Gary joined UBC’s Sauder School of Business (Faculty of Commerce) and his AV Specialist position provided him the opportunity to support faculty and student projects and productions and he enthusiastically facilitated their success. He valued his relationships with staff and faculty like Dan Gardner, Wendy Bishop, Brian Graham , Ellen McIntosh to name only a few. Gary was fortunate to be involved in numerous creative and challenging programs at Sauder and he brought to each of these a competence and enthusiasm that was energizing and reassuring.

His role at UBC also offered amazing opportunities to work with international students from places like Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Taiwan. Those meetings not only allowed Gary to show off Canada and Vancouver but also to receive and accept invitations to see their countries. Indeed, he maintained connection with Joyce in Hong Kong and Christie, who invited him to toast the bride at her Taiwanese wedding in Taiwan (an invitation he accepted) and Pin Hua Chiu, who later became his goddaughter.

Gary formed a long, professional relationship with Joanna Piros at Counterpoint Communications. He greatly admired Joanna’s innovative presentations and style and loved to watch her audience transform from novice to confident and clear communicators. He seized on the opportunity to be even a small part of the smart, tech-savvy Counterpointe video crew and was delighted to add his perspective to their repertoire.

His theatre work was an amazing experience. He formed long lasting, wonderful relationships with many theatre colleagues: Judi Price, Leslie Whittaker, Margaret Lee and Fran Heaney to name a very few. As theatre photographer, Gary would take thousands of photos of a play during rehearsal and then spend days whittling this down to 200 perfect pictures that captured the flow of the play and the role of the actors. For every play, he designed a unique DVD cover and occasionally wondered whether the actors, directors and producers noticed.

Just as in photography, Gary loved to be a part of an actor’s success, responding to and providing the best head shots for their portfolios.

He thrilled to connect promising young actors with friends and colleagues who would work with them to enhance and advance their careers. Interestingly, he also connected the parents with parents of successful actors so that they could learn about the acting journey.

For many colleagues and friends, Gary became the “go to” guy for photography and information about photography and other AV topics. He responded quickly to requests for head shots or transfer of video to DVD or to photographing a special event. On one occasion, he even photographed a wedding, a unique event for Sandy and Doug. He happily loaned people books, DVDs, cameras, lenses and a myriad of other media paraphernalia. He had frequent requests to help select a digital camera or to assist someone’s child to learn about cameras and photography. Brian’s daughter Christie, Joanna’s daughter Isabella, and Trudy and Jamie’s daughter Danielle are three examples of young people mentored by Gary. He thrived on these teaching opportunities and celebrated as the “student” transformed from “happy snap” shooter to an accomplished photographer. Gary shared a multitude of tips and techniques with these individuals but more importantly, he happily outfitted them with one of his cameras and / or lenses so they could practice their art and inform their eventual purchase decision. Gary continued to support his protégés and just recently, provided Christie, now a very successful wedding photographer, with a film camera as she looks for new photographic opportunities. And just last year, he and Danielle completed a book of photographs of their Quebec trip. And on his very last assignment, Isabella was his photographic partner.

Gary’s enthusiasm for photography infused many aspects of his life. For instance, he and his financial advisor chatted about cameras and once again, Gary recognized an interest and talent. He quickly offered to lend him a telephoto lens for a basketball shoot and thrilled at the results, later ensured that he take a very wide angle lens on a trip down the Oregon Coast.

And then there were folks like Tanya Verret, who happened to be selecting her camera when Gary was at the camera store. Gary freely offered advise and tips about cameras and later invited her to observe and participate in a photographic theatre production.

In all his relationships, Gary was quick and generous in his praise of an individual’s talent, carefully highlighting their specific strengths. And, he challenged them to aim higher, patiently explaining next steps, methods and techniques to build on their existing talent.

It is in this spirit that a schoalrship has been established to assist talented and promising high school students in in their pursuit of Visual Arts education.

Thank you again for accessing the site and please know that Gary cherished your relationship and would challenge you to continue to develop your special talent and to be most generous in sharing it with others.