ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. Obituary for: SCHWARZ, ERIK BITTENBRING Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. Source: E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, Covington, La. Died: Monday, February 13, 2017 ======================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ======================================================================= SCHWARZ, ERIK BITTENBRING September 18, 1947 - February 14, 2017 ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/sttammany/obits/dateobits/2017/st1702.htm and click to view list of photos. ========== Erik B. Schwarz, 69, ascended up the Stairway to Heaven with his bass guitar and keyboard in hand on February 13, 2017. Erik was a musical prodigy whose multi-instrumentalist talent for playing music by ear led him to become the bass guitarist and keyboard player for The Paper Steamboat, a popular 60’s New Orleans based band. He moved to Upstate New York in the late 60s to play music with the legendary Edgar Winter, and had the privilege of playing at Woodstock. Erik was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 18, 1947 to Frederic and Elizabeth Schwarz. He graduated from Ecole Classique, and attended Louisiana State University in New Orleans (currently UNO) receiving a degree in Psychology. An avid animal lover, Erik found so much joy volunteering for over seven years at St. Francis Animal Sanctuary in Mandeville and 18 years at the Pontchartrain Humane Society in Slidell. He loved all animals and even had the heart to feed the raccoons regularly because no animal would be turned away by Erik. His purpose was to save as many animals as he possibly could. Erik was a gifted computer programmer and served St. Tammany Parish for 17 years developing a custom program for the St. Tammany Parish Assessor’s Office. He was the founder of New Orleans Soft Solutions developing custom computer systems for glucose monitoring and specialized report generating. Prior to that, he was the software developer for several major companies including 7-up & Dixie Beer. Erik was preceded in death by father, Frederic Schwarz and mother, Elizabeth Bittenbring Schwarz of New Orleans. Erik is survived by his daughter Erika Schwarz Wright and step-daughter Sheryl Zylicz Logue; his former wife, Patricia Schwarz Core; his brother Frederic Schwarz of Braitheway; his sisters, Elizabeth Schwarz Goodgoin of Belle Chase and Cacilie Schwarz of New Orleans; his grandchildren Johnny and Gabrielle Wright; his nephews David and Christopher Holloway, Graeme Schwarz and Carl Goodgoin; his nieces Stacy Schwarz, Julia Goodgoin and Joanna Goodgoin and his 8 best friends, Zeke, Chance, Velvet, Pepper, Olive, Louise, Momma Cat, & Samantha. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Service at 3:00 PM on Friday, March 3, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1 North Marigold Drive, Covington, LA 70433. Visitation on Friday, March 3 from 2:00 PM to service time. Interment will take place at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens. A Celebration of Life Memorial Fundraiser will be held on Friday March 3 after the interment from 6:30pm-9:30pm at a location to be announced. Because of his love for animals, donations are appreciated to benefit St. Francis Animal Sanctuary and the Pontchartrain Humane Society. Please visit https://www.gofundme.com/erikschwarz-memorialfundraiser or send donations made payable to either St. Francis Animal Sanctuary or Pontchartrain Humane Society to Erika Schwarz Wright 9145 Narcoossee Rd #106-167 Orlando, FL 32827 ===================