Leroy B. Schwarz, 82, of Lafayette, passed away Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Franciscan Health, East in Lafayette.

He was born May 12, 1941, in Chicago, IL to the late George Schwarz IV and Francis M. Schwarz.  He attended and graduated from High School in Chicago, IL. He went on to continue his education at the University of Chicago, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Business in 1963, his MBA in 1967, and his PhD in Business Administration in 1971. In 1977, he married Rona Green in Lafayette, and she still survives.

Leroy worked as an Assistant Professor from 1970 – 1973 at Dartmouth College and at the Graduate School of Management at the University of Rochester from 1973 – 1977. He then took a position at Purdue University in 1977, working as an Assistant Professor at the Krannert School of Management from 1977 – 1980, then as a Professor at the Krannert School of Management from 1980 – 2005, and in as the Professor of Management from 2005 until his retirement.  Leroy’s teaching and interests were in Healthcare Supply-Chain Management, Manufacturing Planning and Control Systems, and in Strategic Sourcing and Procurement.  He also concentrated his research on Supply-Chain Management, Healthcare Supply-Chain Management and Manufacturing Planning and Control Systems.

He received many accolades for his work. He was a Finalist in the M&SOM’s Best Paper Award in 2010 and was selected as an INFORMS Fellow in 2005.  He also was given a service award from the Institute for Operation Research and the Management of Science (INFORMS) in 2002 and a Distinguished Service Award from the Manufacturing and Service Operations Management Society in 2001. He was also selected as a Fellow of The Association for Operations Management.  He was honored with being selected as the Very Distinguished Teacher for the Krannert Masters Program in the Spring of 2012, 2011, and 2009, as well as in the Fall of 2009, 2008, 2007, 206, 2005, and 2000. He received the Distinguished Teacher Award also for the Krannerts Master Program in Fall 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004, and 2000, and in the Spring 1998 and 2009. He was an Ameritech Foundation Fellow from 1987-1990.  He also received the Superior Teaching Award at the Graduate School of Management at the University of Rochester in 1975, and APICS Fellowship from 1965-1966 and 1966-1967 and the University of Chicago Fellowship from 1966-1969.

He held many leadership positions including, CO-Chair of the AHRMM Academic Council for Supply-Chain Research from 2010-2012, Member of the Executive Committee, Krannert School of Management from, 2007-2009, Academic Director, Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue University from 2007 – 2009, and Associate Director, Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue University from2004 -2007, Executive Committee at the Center for E-Enterprise at Purdue University beginning in 2002, a Partner in Privacy Preserving Collaboration Technologies, LLC (PriProText), Editor, Operations Management Education Review (OMER), Founding Editor-in-Chief, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, Co-Chair POM-96, Teaching Production Operations Management: Visions, Tipics, and Pedagogies, Founding Director at the Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises, Faculty Director, Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises, Faculty Director, Krannert Computer Center, and Chairman Undergraduate Committee.

Leroy was the co-author of 4 papers, “Joint Transportation and Inventory Problems in Supply Chains: A Review”, “Secure Supply0Chain Collaboration”, Secure Supply-Chain Collaboration: A New Technology for Supply-Chain Management”, and “Optimal Capacity Choice and Allocation in Decentralized Supply Chains”.

Outside of his career, Leroy loved music, even putting out his own CD. He also enjoyed Audio, Yoga, gardening, carpentry, and Pilates. He also loved their 2 Burmese Cats. He was a kind-hearted man who enjoyed reading to kindergarten classes and assisting senior citizens with their taxes.

Along with his wife, Rona Lee (Green) Schwarz, he is survived by his brothers-in-law, Jonathan (Cindy) Green and Philip (Daniella) Green. He will be lovingly remembered by many nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Lois Wolf.

A Celebration of Lee’s life will be held in the spring.

Share memories and leave condolences at www.soller-baker.com.