Dr Schwartz, 84, said he met his wife Arleen (nee Halle), 81, when he was in medical school and his friend invited him to a party.
He needed a date so he decided to ask one of his future wife’s nursing friends out.
But her friend was busy that night so he asked her. Mrs Schwartz said she was a bit reluctant to accept the invite but went along anyway.
"I’m pretty happy with the way things turned out," he said.
The secret to their successful marriage was avoiding conflicts on small issues.
He was not one to argue and she also put up with him.
The couple moved to Dunedin in 1971.
Mrs Schwartz said they were only supposed to be here for three years but Dunedin grew on her.
Dr Schwartz was an associate professor at the University of Otago until two years ago and Mrs Schwartz was a cardiac surgeon.
The couple enjoyed maintaining their garden at their home in Roslyn.
