Ethan Joshua Schwartz, 12, of Gilbertsville, passed away Friday September 9, 2022 at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Born in Bryn Mawr, he was the son of Eric J. and Martrese (Young) Schwartz.
Ethan was pure magic. He had the most amazing smile and contagious laugh. He had the most beautiful and expressive brown eyes and rock star hair. Ethan’s legacy is that he loved and lived life to its fullest. While he had suffering, he was not a suffering child. He decided to be happy, and he was. He was full of fire and attitude that served him very well.
Ethan and his family had a trip of a lifetime together visiting the national parks and Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas. His enjoyment was all over his face at every turn. His favorite spot was Glacier National Park in Montana. He loved the beautiful vistas and the wind in his hair at the top of Logan’s Pass. He was pure happiness as he explored the Trail of the Cedars just like everyone else. He was filled with awe and wonder. Ethan was a true nature lover and delighted in exploring the world around him.
His favorite activity was to walk to the end of the neighborhood with his mom and count the cars. Ethan also loved visiting the Barn at Springbrook Farm where every session started with his best buddy, Sugar the Donkey, and ended cuddling the bunnies. Ethan was pure joy riding on the swing on his back porch, floating in the pool or soaking in the bathtub. He loved gazing at stars around the firepit, riding the waves in his beach wheelchair, or bumping on the slats of the boardwalk as he anxiously awaited a game of skeeball or getting a treat. Cotton candy and chocolate & peanut butter ice cream were his favorites.
Ethan was the heart of his family. He loved to cuddle on the couch with his Mom, Dad, Sister and cats, Cocoa and Snow. He loved to hang out for movie and game nights. Ethan absolutely loved Star Wars and Marvel. He would burst with excitement when watching a new episode of The Mandalorian. He loved dressing up on May the 4th and Halloween. He had also really gotten into Harry Potter. He absolutely loved music and recently discovered the Beatles.
Ethan was nonverbal but extremely social. He loved school with his friends. He was the class weatherman and was always the first to compliment his friends with “you did great” or checking in “are you having a good day?” or “how are you feeling? using his eyegaze communicator. He loved to tell jokes and perform in the holiday and talent shows. Ethan was so happy at school, and he shared that joy with his friends, therapists, teachers and aides at CADES. While he was only part of the HMS School community for a short time, he was so excited to start the school year in the fall.
Ethan had a large extended family of caregivers. Tammy Koble and Nancy Lescalatte were his most devoted nurses and are forever family. Through the years, there have been many nurses that have loved Ethan like their own. The Speech, Occupational and Physical therapists from Limerick Theraplay encouraged him into his full potential. He also had devoted doctors and staff at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington that advocated for Ethan to live his most full life.
Surviving along with his parents are his sister Julianna “Jules” Schwartz; maternal grandparents Martrese and John Young; paternal grandparents Andrea and Marc Schwartz; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday September 21, 2022 at 6:30 PM at Catagnus Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Ltd., 329 N. Lewis Rd., Royersford, PA 19468. Interment will be private. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4:00-6:15 PM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any of the following organizations in Ethan's name:
The Barn at Spring Brook Farm. Ethan loved animals. https://www.springbrook-farm.o...; There is a "Donate Now button in the top right corner.
Ocean City Surf Chair Program. Ethan loved the beach, and Ocean City, NJ offered beach-accessible wheelchairs for free daily use. Personal checks in Ethan’s name can be sent to:
City of Ocean City (Surf Chair Program)
861 Asbury Ave
Ocean City, NJ 08226
Happy 2 be Home. This is the organization that helped remodel his home after the anoxic brain injury to move his bedroom to the first floor and allow space for his wheelchair. https://www.happy2behome.org/d...; There is a "Donate" button in the top right corner.
Designing 4 Hope. This is the organization that decorated Ethan's room (and Jules's room) after the remodel to make it feel like home. https://www.designing4hope.org...; There is a "Donate" button in the top right corner.