David William Schwartzman

David William Schwartzman - 1943-2025 David William Schwartzman, aged 81, passed away on Tuesday, July 1st in Washington, DC, following a subdural hematoma that was preceded by months of serious illness. David lived in Washington DC since 1973 Born in Brooklyn, New York on October 31st, 1943 David reminded friends it was exactly nine months after the Battle of Stalingrad. His father Max and mother Miriam conceiving David in celebration of the Soviet Union’s victory over the Nazis meant that from even from his embryonic beginnings, David was cosmically tied to the victory of socialism over fascism. David had a lifetime commitment to racial and economic justice, locally and globally. He grew up among a thriving community of largely leftist working-class Jews in the 1950’s, where his passion and curiosity for science and the natural world was encouraged. He attended the prestigious Stuyvesant High School, followed by City College, New York B.S, 1964 (chemistry, geology), and Brown University: M.S., 1966 Ph.D., 1971 (geochemistry). David began teaching at Howard University in 1973, became Chairman from 1973-to 1985 and held various positions retiring on June 30, 2012 as Professor Emeritus, but retirement didn’t mean a quiet life him. David ran for office for the DC Statehood Green Party on three occasions, advocating for many years as a candidate and activist in the struggle for DC Statehood. His focus on hiking DC income taxes on our wealthy residents was realized last year when the DC Council passed this hike with revenue going to childcare, affordable housing and an increase in the DC Earned Income Tax Credit benefitting low-income workers. He had a lifelong commitment and felt passionately that his role was to improve the lives of others and not focus on himself, this was instilled in him from his culture, to do good in his community. He enriched and guided many peace and social justice activists in the city and his involvement in demonstrations and protests will be greatly missed. His civic activities included the Nuclear freeze and Bottle Bill initiatives, Justice for Janitors, Local 25 campaigns, Coalition for Lead Control, Fair Taxes for DC, Tax & Budget and Legislative, Metro DC Science for the People. David was a leader in the DC Statehood Green Party, he was involved in Empower DC, One DC, Claudia Jones School, Fair Budget Coalition, Metro DC Democratic Socialists of America, DC for Democracy, the International Steering Committee and Eco Action of the Green Party, DC Public Banking Center. David authored hundreds of scientific and political articles, including two published books, “Life Temperature and the Earth” 1999 (The Self Organizing Biosphere), and “The Earth is Not for Sale” (A Path out of Fossil Capitalism to the Other World that is Still Possible). He had not quite finished his final book “Solar Communism”. His research interests included Biogeochemistry, geochemisty (isotope, environmental), astrobiology, environmental studies/policy, philosophy of science, cryptozoology, MUFON, SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence), and research on the origin of life. His work on lead in the environment was an important contribution in the banning of lead in gasoline. He regularly contributed testimony for the Fair Budget Coalition, advocating against cuts to social services and communities of color, and to the DC Council, pressing for a more just society, taxing the rich, ending childhood poverty, and exposing injustice when he saw it to those in power. David leaves behind his wife Joanne; his sons Peter and Sam; Sam’s mother, Emilie, his grandchildren, and nieces and nephews, and a home in DC where he lived for almost fifty years. His loved ones are planning a memorial and celebration of his life on 2nd August at the Josephine Butler Center, Washington DC.

David William Schwartzman

October 31, 1943 - July 1, 2025