Harold Arthur Meyer Schwan

It is with the heaviest of hearts I must announce the passing of Harold (Don't call me Harold) Schwan, on Friday March 14, 2025 at 11:55 PM. Harry was born in Brooklyn, NY, the eldest son of Arthur Harold and Helen Delores Schwan.

Harry spent six years in the U.S. Navy as a ship's cook. When his daughter Cathleen was born Harry left the military to help raise his daughter who was born with hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy and needed 24/7 care.

Harry worked as a cake decorator at the A & P Supermarket, where he was in great demand for his ability to do things with his left hand that others could not. He was transferred to the meat department where he was promoted to Shop Steward where he initiated the celebration of Martin Luther King's Birthday as a holiday which allowed all meat cutters the day off.

While working as a meat cutter, he was approached by the Arch Bishop of St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church in Hauppauge, New York in 1979 to be one of the first groups of men sent to the Seminary for Deacon Training. Harry was ordained in 1979 where he first served from St. Thomas Moore until he relocated to Phoenix, AZ and continued to minister from St. Joseph's Catholic Church until 2009.

Harry loved to minister as a Deacon where he was instrumental in changing many lives. He was a counselor, performed many baptisms, weddings, funerals, Sunday masses, holiday celebrations; any function allowed to Deacons, he was involved in. Harry ministered in Phoenix until 2009 when he retired from the ministry. It was never a surprise to hear someone call out "Deacon Harry is that you?" He was known far and wide from New York to Phoenix.

He will always be remembered as the man who never turned down an opportunity to be Santa Claus for adults and children who still believed. He was a great support to all members of the Down Syndrome Community. A man with a quick wit, who never met a person he didn't like, bright twinkling blue eyes and a smile that could change your whole day. The world will never be the same without Deacon Harry.

He is survived by his wife Mercedes Y. Schwan, his sons Russell, William, Brian, Howard and Joey, daughters Mercedes, Jill and Cathleen (deceased), six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and his ("little brother") Richard Schwan.