Jim Schwarz will soon have two college degrees, though he earned them 55 years and nearly 3,000 miles apart.
Schwarz, 77, graduated from Oregon State University in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army for two years and went on to a lengthy career in sales before retiring at age 70.
He enrolled at William Paterson University in Wayne three years ago for the most personal of reasons— to learn how to become a better caretaker for his beloved wife, Linda, as she battled back from two major medical issues.
Schwarz pursued a bachelor’s degree in health studies, taking classes about Medicare and other services.
On Wednesday, Schwarz will be among more than 2,000 William Paterson University graduates receiving degrees in a commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark. He will be the oldest graduate at the ceremony, campus officials said.
He is also the oldest William Paterson graduate in at least 20 years and may be among the oldest ever at the school, but digital records about the ages of graduates before 2000 are less clear because they were pulled from paper records, a university spokeswoman said.
Linda, his “wonderful, loving wife” of 48 years — and the reason he went back to school — will be among those sharing in the moment at the ceremony.
She’s also the reason he settled in New Jersey.
“A hick from Oregon with a city gal from New Jersey. Geez, who would’ve thought,” said Schwarz, a father of four and grandfather of six.