PORT WASHINGTON, NY – WAC Lighting Founder Tony Wang has announced that
highly respected industry veteran Leonard Schwartz has died.
According to Mr. Wang, “Leonard was one of the finest men I ever met. A gentleman in
every sense of the word, he was very generous, kind, and highly successful in his personal and
professional life. He was instrumental in helping our family build WAC into the industry leader it
has become today.”
“Leonard meant so much to so many of us,” said Shelley Wald. “He always inspired
people and had a great gift for seeing the best in everyone. By his example, he helped people
aspire to be better. We will sorely miss his patient empathy, fierce friendship, and generosity of
spirit.”
Mr. Schwartz was employed by WAC for more than three decades, serving as Executive
Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sales Representative and Consultant. He is survived by
his daughters Beverly Weiser and Joann Raby. His son Hal Schwartz, and grandchildren Sam and
Renee, continue to represent the WAC and its affiliated brands. In addition to Sam and Renee, he
is also survived by seven other grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Leonard enjoyed a long career in the lighting industry, starting as a factory representative
for Lightolier in the late 1950s. Soon thereafter, he went to work as a salesman for Electrical
Distributing Company (EDCO) in San Antonio. He learned the business and eventually
purchased EDCO several years later. During this time, he established Southwest Lighting to
produce some of his own lighting products for resale. He sold EDCO and concentrated on
manufacturing. Southwest Lighting was combined with Eagle Lighting before becoming
American Lantern. When American Lantern was winding down operations, Leonard was ready
for another challenge. He formed Leonard M. Schwartz and Associates. He owned and operated
his rep business for a few years before selling his agency to concentrate full-time on his next and
last career journey with his beloved WAC family.
Founded nearly 40 years ago, WAC designs and builds a wide range of intelligent and
integrated LED luminaires and ceiling fans across renowned brands such as MODERN FORMS,
WAC Lighting, SCHONBEK, dweLED, LIMITED, WAC Landscape, and AiSPIRE. For more
information, please visit its websites: www.waclighting.com, www.modernforms.com,
www.schonbek.com.
Tai Wang, Leonard Schwartz and Tony Wang
