Morris "Morrie" Schwartz (b.12/20/1916-d.11/04/1995) was an American professor of sociology at Brandeis University and an author. Schwartz was born in Chicago and was the son of Charlie Schwartz, a Russian-Jewish immigrant who emigrated from Russia to escape the army. He received his doctorate from the University of Chicago and taught at Brandeis University from 1959-1986. Schwartz achieved national prominence posthumously after being featured as the subject of Mitch Albom's 1997 best-selling memoir, Tuesdays with Morrie. Schwartz passed away on November 4, 1995, from Lou Gehrig's disease.