Storrs Obituary: Israel Schwarzmann, 92

Israel "Igor" Schwarzmann, 92, succumbed to the infirmity of age and passed peacefully on April 20th, 2017.

He leaves his son, Alexander, his daughter-in-law, Sana, his grandson Theodore, granddaughter Ginger, and great-grandson Theodore.

Born July 16th, 1924 in Romania he was raised in Iasi (Jassy), his father, Abraham was a theater director, and his mother Frieda, an actress. In 1940 the family was deported by the Russians to Central Asia after the Soviet occupation of Moldova, among many thousands of intellectuals and cultural elite.

Mr. Schwarzmann returned to his homeland in 1945, and he graduated with honors from the Chisinau Music Conservatory. During his long career he was a violinist, chamber orchestra conductor, music professor, composer, film sound producer, and pops music orchestrator. He was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).

Mr. Schwarzmann, who was often called by his nicknames Izzy and Igor, met his future wife, Tamara Charzewska (1930-2007), in Chisinau when she was a student at the Music Conservatory, they were married in 1953, and together they had two children, Alexander and Marina.

In 1973 the family emigrated to Israel and then in 1975 to the United States. Mr. Schwarzmann played with symphony orchestras in several states, and he was quite active in semi-retirement in the 1990's, producing more than 20 audio CDs for Richard Hayman, an American composer and conductor.

During the last four decades Mr. Schwarzmann and family lived in New Jersey, Alabama, Rhode Island, and most recently in Storrs.

Family and friends may gather for a funeral service Sunday, April 23 at noon at Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic, followed by a graveside service at 1 p.m. in Mansfield Center Cemetery.