As a long-time Fire Island resident, Tom Schwartz is a well-known figure in many communities. Famous for his strong opinions and equally strong influence on island affairs, Schwartz is known to many as a former mayor of Ocean Beach. Schwartz has remained unstoppable both on Fire Island as an outspoken Lonelyville resident and across New York State as the current president of Purchase College, SUNY.

A Powerful Presence
During his nine-year tenure as Ocean Beach mayor, Schwartz did a great deal to shape the community, improving the community both functionally and financially. In addition to creating the ball field, which had been a mere sandlot, Schwartz had the bay walk in front of Maguire’s installed to the tennis courts. One of the founders of the Ocean Beach Community Fund with Aaron Ziegelman and Goldie Kleiner, Schwartz had his revelation for the fund during a rousing board game. “The idea came to me while playing Monopoly, [when I saw] the Community Chest piece. I thought, that’s what we need—a community chest,” he stated.
Another task Schwartz undertook was that of limiting large share houses, which largely influenced Ocean Beach’s character today.
“When I was mayor, I decided to crack down on the group rentals,” Schwartz said. “Word got out that it’s not a good place for them. It was not personal; I’m sure they’re great people. [But] at the time I had small kids, [so] I tried to move it towards a more family and residential community,” Schwartz felt so strongly that he considered moving out of Ocean Beach. Instead, he ran for mayor.
Schwartz’s one regret is an issue with which the current government is now grappling: an architectural review board.
“I wanted to create some kind of an aesthetics board to regulate housing, siding, etc.,” he said. “People didn’t support the idea, [but] it was a mistake not going through with it. As I look around now at some buildings, I see a lot that is not so pleasing. I know the town did something recently, but it’s too late.”
Schwartz held strong views about the role of the commercial district in the village, which sometimes put him at odds with business owners.
Schwartz explained, “Some people I battled the most were in the commercial district. But we understood each other. My position has always been that this should not be made into a destination point. The commercial people are here to serve the people staying here, not to promote bringing more people out here.” Schwartz acknowledged the friction between business and politics in the village today, a conflict he struggled with during his administration.
“It’s unfortunate the present administration doesn’t share my point of view. You have to be willing to take some steps that tend to antagonize people. As mayor, you can’t make everyone happy. But I think people feel they got a fair hearing [with me.]”

A Deciding Game
During his time as mayor, Schwartz had a distinguished career as a lawyer at the firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he served as a partner from 1976- 2003. Schwartz made the important decision to attend law school during a 1 p.m. volleyball game on a Fire Island beach.
“I was playing against my close friend Eric Lane and we were both trying to figure out what to do. I got into Columbia Business School and Fordham and Georgetown Law. As I’m playing against Eric, I’m thinking, law school- three years and JAG (judge advocate general) or two years and infantry. This was during the Vietnam War. As we’re crossing sides under the net, I said to Eric, ‘I’ve decided law school,’ and he said, ‘Me too.’”
While attending Fordham Law School, Schwartz already showed potential as a future leader. As editor of the Fordham Law Review, he met the future dean of Fordham Law, John Feerick, while editing an article Feerick wrote. Feerick was impressed with Schwartz and offered him a job, leading to Schwartz’s long career as a lawyer, during which the Legal Aid Society presented him with its Pro Bono Award in 1998 for his work staffing a senior center for elder care advice.
Back in 1978, however, Schwartz was no longer quite satisfied as a practicing lawyer. Acting as mayor of Ocean Beach helped him realize his potential as a college president.
“Being mayor had a great impact on what I do now,” Schwartz remarked. “I didn’t know that I didn’t want to practice anymore, but I knew I wanted something else. When I was on the alumni board of Hamilton College, [my alma mater], and then mayor of Ocean Beach, I thought, some ways, you are the mayor of a community as the President [of a college]. I put the two things together. Being president, there are the same ideas as being mayor of a community: financial, planning of growth, and forming a mission for the institution. I’m a delegate. If you have the right people, then you’ll make things happen.”

Purchasing Power
Today, Schwartz combines the skills he has acquired as a lawyer and as Ocean Beach mayor. Since July 2003, he has been the president of Purchase College, a highly selective and unique liberal arts SUNY school.
“Purchase was Rockefeller’s creation,” Schwartz explained. “His idea was to put public conservatories and professional art programs on one [public] campus to allow people who can’t afford to go to a private school to go to a liberal arts college. There are no other campuses like this. Rockefeller’s hope was that graduates would be patrons and supporters of the arts.”
With Schwartz’s help, Purchase is climbing the ranks of the collegiate world. During his tenure, the endowment has increased an astonishing 12.7 percent to $33.4 million. In addition, Schwartz hopes to make Purchase an even more unique school with his latest proposal.
“I’m waiting to see if a bill passes in Albany to allow us to have a retirement community on the campus of Purchase,” he said.
The community would have townhouses for about 250 people. Residents could live independently or receive full-time care or something in between. Retirees would both draw from and contribute to the college. They could attend classes, lectures, museums, along with a number of other activities offered. They would also be able to act as tour guides, mentors, and friends, not to mention benefactors. If it passes, Schwartz hopes to raise $2- 3 million annually.
Schwartz’s innovative ideas like this are what makes him such a unique and effectual leader, as he was in Ocean Beach more than two decades ago.

Retaining His Roots
Although Tom Schwartz has gone far since his days as mayor of Ocean Beach from 1978 to 1987, he still feels a deep connection to Fire Island. As Purchase President and a board member of the New York State Preservation League, the Riverside Park Fund, and the Board of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Schwartz has little free time, but still makes the effort to come to his house in Lonelyville nearly every weekend. Schwartz feels especially connected to Ocean Beach, where he spent summers as a child in a house bought by his family in 1949 that he still owns.
“Even though I live in Lonelyville now, I consider Ocean Beach my home,” he said. “Fire Island is in your blood- in your soul.”