Alfred Seymour Schwartz, M.D., former clinical professor at the School of Medicine and a leader in a study that contributed to a ban on testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, died of prostate cancer Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005, in University City. He was 92.
As one of the leaders of the world-renowned St. Louis Baby Tooth Survey conducted from 1959-1970, Schwartz and his colleagues analyzed nearly 300,000 teeth for evidence of strontium 90, a radioactive material created in atomic and hydrogen bomb explosions.
The study, spearheaded by then-professor of biology in Arts & Sciences Barry Commoner, Ph.D., found that the teeth absorbed nuclear material.
The findings contributed to a ban on testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.
Born on July 12, 1913, in New York, Schwartz earned a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College in 1932 and a medical degree at Johns Hopkins University in 1936 before doing a residency at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
He remained in the area to conduct a private practice with offices in St. Louis, Clayton and Creve Coeur.
He was associated with Barnes-Jewish Hospital and served as a clinical professor at the School of Medicine. He authored several papers in medical journals about childhood behavior problems and was vice president and treasurer of the Greater St. Louis Citizens Committee for Nuclear Information.
He also was a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and was a director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri. Several years ago, he was the first recipient of the group’s Eugene Buder Spirit of Liberty Award for volunteerism.
His wife of 63 years, Ellen Jane Freund Schwartz, died in 2004.
Survivors include sons Stephen, Andrew and Charles; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 7 at the Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Road in Ladue.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, 8215 Clayton Road, St. Louis MO, 63117.