Warren Ryder Schwartz

The sweet, gentle soul of Warren “Red” Ryder Schwartz was taken from this world in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 28, 2006. Born September 6, 1966, his special gift was evident to many even at a very young age – he loved to entertain people. Longtime Crestview residents remember the young boy, already an accomplished gymnast, who labored for hours in the yard off of Woodrow, tossing ball after ball into the air, learning at last how to artfully catch each one in the lyrical dance of juggling. Starting as a young boy at the Renaissance Festival, Ryder practiced his self-taught art, gathering a following with his playful banter and skillful artistry. He made his first appearance at the International Jugglers Association championships at the age of 14, where he was named “Most Promising Performer.” In 1988, he was the silver medal winner at the same prestigious competition. He performed with the national cast of television’s Fame at the Paramount Theater at the age of 18. He joined the eminent comedy troupe at Esther’s Follies in 1987, a move that gained him a second family, as well as a lifelong professional home. Early in his career, he trained at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Clown College in Sarasota, Florida, and went on to perform for audiences worldwide, including England, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Germany, the Mediterranean, Argentina, Thailand, and Japan, earning him international acclaim as one of the very best at his craft. At home, he delighted audiences with his juggling, clowning, unicycle riding, and comedy vaudeville routines as the warm-up act at Esther’s. He was a tireless perfectionist in his craft, working on his act for hours on end. He entertained children the best, and they loved him, surrounding him at local festivals and at the Magic Camp, where he was a perennial favorite. A one of a kind vaudeville performer, Ryder liked to stand out on Sixth Street between shows, entertaining people walking by with his tricks and his infectious smile. Those closest to him, though, knew of his private, lifelong struggle, a dependence on substance that kept much of what he cherished most about life unattainable. He dearly loved his parents, his sisters, and his daughter, but his illness often kept him out of their reach. He loved tradition, family, and holidays, and struggled with a most extraordinary resiliency and youthfulness to find normalcy in his life. Predeceasing Ryder were his grandparents C. H. and Emily Lester and Geneva Vessels, all of Austin, who loved him dearly. He is lovingly survived by his family: daughter Estelle Sarmiento of Galveston; sister Shelly Schwartz and her son Canyon Schwartz of Houston; sister Julie Hershberger of Houston; mother Beverly Lester and her partner Martha King and her daughters Kelly and Lauren Shugart, all of Austin; father Bill Schwartz and wife Paulette Schwartz of Austin; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends and acquaintances who will miss him dearly. Also surviving Ryder is the loving cast of Esther’s Follies, in particular owners Shannon Sedwick and Michael Shelton, who since the beginning have given him an unconditional love and exceptional support. The family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made to the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research at the University of Texas at Austin, P. O. Box 7458, Austin, TX 78713-7459. A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 1, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. in the Smith Chapel at Riverbend Church, the Reverend Gordon Smith presiding. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com