| John "Jack" Swartz 
AUBURNDALE -- Jack was born in Latrobe, PA. on May 14, 1944 and raised in Easton, MD where he graduated from Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School and was Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop #177 and active in Little League. Jack came to Florida in 1968. He met and married Barbara Trean Knight and they met and moved to Lakeland for 15 years and then settled in Auburndale on peaceful Lake Juliana for the past 11 years. Jack was an avid sports fan and collector of sports memorabilia. He especially enjoyed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Braves, and the Baltimore Orioles. An accomplished bowler since the age of 17, he held the “house” record in Easton, MD. for over 20 years with a score of 298. He was an active member in the Orange Belt Bowling Association of Florida for 25 years – bowling in many local, state, and national tournaments around the country. He was a member of the Monday night Kegel Connection Men’s League at Orange Bowl Lanes. Jack was the General Manager and Operating Partner for Charley’s Steak House and Seafood Grille/Talk of the Town Restaurant Group in Kissimmee for the past 19 years. It was selected as one of the Top Ten Steak Houses in America and received the prestigious Distinguished Independent Restaurants of North America (Dironna) Award. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Restaurant Association. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Rose Swartz; brother, Tom Swartz; infant daughters: Mary Theresa, Mia Angela, and Elizabeth, and in 1993 his adult daughter Jennifer Marie Howard. Jack is survived by his wife of 26 years Barbara Denise Swartz, daughter Autumn Rose Swartz, son Creighton Nicholas Knight, daughter-in-law Karli Smith Knight, three Granddaughters Morgan Nicole Howard, Erica Cali Howard, and Allison Grace Knight, Sisters Rose Miles, Mary Ann Roe and several nieces, nephews, and cousins residing Easton, MD. Other family members consist of our dog Minnie and three cats Vinny, Florence, and Rocky. He was a Christian and actively served as an usher for All Saint’s Episcopal Church. Jack and Barbara enjoyed world traveling with colleagues as representatives for Charley's on several "educational" wine trips! Jack will be remembered as a very caring and loving son, brother, uncle, husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be deeply missed. We want to thank you for all the good memories you have shared with us this week. May God bless you. We love you, Jack! The family requests that donations be made in his honor to All Saints’ Episcopal Church or Orange Bowl Youth Scholarship Fund to Orange Bowl Lanes, ATTN: Frank Collins, 4318 U.S. Hwy. 98 North, Lakeland, 33809
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