Dear Switzer family, 
So very sorry for your loss. Thank you for including Stratford Ecological Center in tribute. The Stratford family is eternally grateful for John’s time serving as one of trustees and his contributions to our mission educating central Ohio children on the importance of taking care of our environment.  With sympathy, gratitude and thanks,
Gary Rosenberg 
President, Stratford Board of Trustees

John Switzer was The Columbus Dispatch's Bill Bryson.
Each year, he'd go into the woods during the first freeze, get naked and sit on a tree stump.
It was always so funny and homespun.
He said that sitting naked on a tree stump would prepare his body for winter.
His "weather reports" on the back of The Dispatch were always truly loved.
I can't believe that I never emailed him to tell him how much I appreciated his work.
He was a great writer.
I loved how he wrote in a conversational style. If you read him, you felt like you knew him. I will miss his voice.

In a high-stress business with continual deadlines, John was always unflappable. One morning decades ago, I was covering a triple homicide in a Downtown bar - interviewing  the coroner, police detectives and other law enforcement types at the scene. A panicky assistant editor back in the Dispatch's city room a few blocks away kept interrupting my interviews by shouting unnecessary instructions into my walkie-talkie. I finally turned off the walkie-talkie, ending all communications with the annoying boss.
About 15 minutes later, John came ambling along. The nervous assistant  editor had assigned him to check on me, John explained, in his usual calm manner. "I'm doing fine," I told him. "Don't need any help." Pointing to a nearby cafe, John responded, "I'm going over there to get some coffee. I can't go back to the office right now.   She (the assistant editor) would think I didn't check up on you enough. So, I'll sit in the coffee shop for about 15 or 20 minutes and then walk back to the city room. I'll tell her you have everything under control."  We both laughed.

We are so sadden to learn of John's passing.  He was a very  good and long time friend.  The four  of us grow up together in Fostoria Ohio.  We had a lot of fun together and John was in our wedding!  Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

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John Eldon Switzer

22 April, 1941 – 7 October, 2025

Schoedinger Northwest

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