Janet Ruth (Schwartz) Langenderfer died of cancer Wednesday, August 5, 2026. She is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Tom Langenderfer, as well as, mother, Marylin Schwartz; sisters, Francine Freedman, Shelley Miller, Debbie Tipton, and Nancy Gusman and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by father, Stuart Schwartz.
Janet grew up in Chevy Chase, graduated from BCC high school, and after living in Chicago for 20 years, returned to the area in 2004.
Janet worked her way through an undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland and a graduate degree at George Washington University. She went on to have a nearly 30 year career in credit card management, including as Vice President at MasterCard and Senior Director at Amtrak, where she designed and implemented Amtrak’s on-board credit card system. She was named one of Business Ledger’s top 25 influential women in business in 1998.
Janet loved to travel and visit art museums around the world. Highlights included trips with Tom to Italy, France, and Israel.
Janet also cared deeply about the world around her. She was president of her synagogue when she lived in Illinois, a volunteer election judge, and Board Member at the Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad. She volunteered with K9s 4 Warriors and helped to prepare food for Interfaith Works Women’s Shelter.
The funeral service will be held at Ohr Kodesh Congregation in Chevy Chase at 11:00 on Sunday, August 9, 2026. Burial to follow at King David Cemetery in Falls Church. Shiva will be observed Sunday, August 9, Monday, August 10, and Tuesday, August 11 with minyan at 7:30.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to K9s 4 Warriors (https://k9sforwarriors.org/), Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) (https://www.breakthrought1d.org/), Casey House of Montgomery & Prince George’s Hospice (https://montgomeryhospice.org/hospice-care/casey-house/), Ohr Kodesh Congregation (https://www.ohrkodesh.org/).
