Honoring a valued friendship through a lasting legacy
photo: courtesy of Hans WehlHeinz Schwartz
A conscientious certified public accountant and a loyal friend, Heinz Schwartz played another role that did not become apparent until after his death: that of a generous philanthropist.
Schwartz bequeathed an unrestricted gift of $125,000 to City of Hope in honor of his childhood friend, Hans Wehl, a member of the Seattle Chapter.
Although Wehl always encouraged his friend to support City of Hope through volunteering or fundraising, Schwartz never acted on the suggestions. “I always thought it went in one ear and out the other,” Wehl said. “Apparently, something touched him.”
Wehl and Schwartz met each other in China as children. Schwartz’s family had fled Nazi Germany in 1939, and lived in China for 10 years before immigrating to the United States. The Wehl family also eventually moved to America, and both families settled in Seattle, where they grew closer.
photo: Heinz SchwartzSharon and Hans Wehl
When Schwartz embarked on a career in accounting, Wehl entered into a business arrangement with his friend that lasted 50 years. For decades, Wehl has supported the Seattle Chapter, including helping to underwrite operating costs of the local City of Hope thrift store with his wife, Sharon. Although the Wehls’ dedication impressed Schwartz, he never shared his bequest plans. “He would say, ‘I’ll get back to you on that,’ whenever I would ask a question that he didn’t have a ready answer for,” said Wehl.
Wehl also had suggested to Schwartz that he prepare a will, but he thought his friend had never acted on the advice. Schwartz, however, had carefully crafted a generous gift in his friend’s honor. Schwartz lived in Seattle until his death in 2007 at age 77.