President of Schwebel Baking dies

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley lost one of its longtime business leaders with the death Monday of Joseph M. Schwebel.

Schwebel, 73, started at the family bread-making business in 1960, became president of Schwebel Baking Co. in 1985 and remained in that position until his death.

Before starting with the company, Schwebel graduated in 1956 from The Rayen School, served in the Army Reserve and graduated in 1960 from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Finance.

When he started at the family business, its annual revenue was just over $2 million and now is about $130 million.

The company had a number of successes under his leadership. The company added new plants and bakeries. Throughout the entire history of the company beginning in 1906, Schwebel Baking Co. has remained a family-run business.

In 1997, Schwebel was inducted into the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University’s Hall of Fame.

“He was truly a kind gentleman,” said his son, Lee Schwebel. As the oldest grandson of Dora and Joseph Schwebel, Joseph M. Schwebel was responsible for carrying on the traditions of hard work and top quality that were started by his grandparents, Lee Schwebel said.

Joseph Schwebel and his brother, Paul, served as role models for the younger generation in terms of work ethic, Lee Schwebel said.

“His legacy will be of hard work and of giving back to the community,” Lee Schwebel said.

The company always has been about family serving families, he said.

“We say we have flour running through our veins,” Lee Schwebel said.

His father’s community activities included serving on the board of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, former chairman and board member of the Youngstown State University Foundation and a chairman and board member of the Jewish Family and Children’s Service.

The family will continue his legacy and work ethic going forward, Lee Schwebel said.

“That’s what he would want,” he added.