By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Paul Schwartz's strong work ethic was established before he was old enough to drive a car.

The youngest son born to Romanian parents who fled their native country for America without speaking a word of English, Mr. Schwartz began selling newspapers on the streets of Cleveland at the age of 9.

"His family was poor, and so he began working young so he could support them ... But he never really retired," said his wife, Judy Parrott Schwartz of Ludlow.

Mr. Schwartz, the retired owner of Sparrow Trucking Company, died Feb. 17 at Baptist Convalescent Care Center in Newport of pneumonia. The Ludlow resident was 86.

After graduating from Cleveland East Tech High School, where he was a classmate and friend of Jesse Owens, Mr. Schwartz entered the Army Air Corps to serve in World War II.

He was honorably discharged in 1945 and lived briefly in California, where he worked odd jobs, once walking Mae West's dog.

Shortly after, he moved to Cincinnati and joined friends from Cleveland in opening the Newport Shopping Center. From 1950 until 1977, Mr. Schwartz was the manager of the shopping center.

After leaving the business in 1977, he went to work for an air freight service at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. There, he decided to open his own trucking company, Sparrow Trucking.

Mr. Schwartz closed the trucking business around 1987, but accepted a position with St. John's Nursing Home in Covington.

A son, Michael McDaniel, died in 1992.

Besides his wife of 33 years, survivors include two sons, Marc Schwartz of Valerico, Fla., and Kevin McDaniel of Belleview; three daughters, Marna Mandarino of Ludlow, Karen McDaniel of Elsmere and Lisa Dove of Hopkinsville; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Burial was in St. John Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.

Memorials: Bridges for Peace, PO Box 33145, Tulsa, OK, 74153-1145.

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E-mail nhamilton@enquirer.com