Leonard Schwartz, 84, Doctor, Heavyhands dumbbells inventor
Hoodoo
Died May 11, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
By Lindsay Carroll, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10134/1058038-122.stm
http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/20100513obit_schwartz_160.jpg
Leonard Schwartz -- with his Heavyhands dumbbell
Leonard Schwartz was 49 when he created the exercise program that
charmed the world.
He turned an idea for his own fitness routine into a global trend when
he published his first workout book in 1982 -- and Heavyhands, Dr.
Schwartz's patented handled dumbbells, are still on sale today.
Dr. Schwartz, an accomplished inventor and psychoanalyst who lived in
Pittsburgh for most of his life, died Tuesday after being diagnosed with
lymphoma in February. He was 84.
The fitness trend that was Heavyhands began when Dr. Schwartz tore his
hamstring. He had tried running, jogging and "all those aerobic
schticks," he told The Associated Press in 1982. But after picking up a
rusty pair of dumbbells in his basement, he realized he needed a less
painful form of exercise. He was concerned about his health -- he had
back pain and hypertension.
Dr. Schwartz began dancing and walking with the weights, and what was an
idea for personal benefit became a household name. He went on to conduct
laboratory research about his fitness program, write several books and
manuals, produce fitness videos and then patent Heavyhands -- his
dumbbells with handles that don't need to be clutched when they are
lifted. Retailers like Target and Dick's Sporting Goods still sell the
products online.
Dr. Schwartz grew up in the Hill District. He met the love of his life,
Millie Bernstein, when he was 14. She was his wife for 56 years, until
her death in 2002.
They dated until Dr. Schwartz entered the Navy at age 18. He had already
finished a year of studying at Pitt when he served as a Seabee in Saipan
during World War II. When he came back three years later, he married Ms.
Bernstein.
Dr. Schwartz finished his studies at Pitt and continued at the
university's School of Medicine, where he studied psychiatry. After
graduating in 1952, he completed his residency at Montefiore Hospital
and began working in private practice in 1956. He served as chief of
Montefiore's psychiatry department from 1963 to 1985.
Dr. Schwartz's daughter, Jodi Lindner of Fox Chapel, said her father was
known for his empathy.
"You told him something, and he felt it -- you could tell that he did,"
she said.
Chuck Vosganian worked for one of the companies that sold Heavyhands
when he met Dr. Schwartz in 1986. Mr. Vosganian, now the vice president
of sales and marketing at Lion Sports -- which currently sells the
product -- kept in regular contact with Dr. Schwartz.
He said that despite the fame and wealth of Heavyhands, Dr. Schwartz had
a humble, self-deprecating sense of humor rather than a big ego.
"He never whipped that out," Mr. Vosganian said. "He was just a regular
guy, interested in physical fitness."
Dr. Schwartz retired from psychiatry and his position at Montefiore
Hospital in 1985, making Heavyhands and fitness a new career. Ms.
Lindner said her father continued to invent fitness routines and
exercises every day until his lymphoma made it too difficult. He also
wrote poetry, sculpted and played classical guitar.
In addition to his daughter, Dr. Schwartz is survived by another
daughter, Debbie Bailey of Fox Chapel, and four grandchildren. A funeral
was held on Thursday. Memorial contributions can be sent to Forbes
Hospice, 115 South Neville St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
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