Paul Russell Schwedler

Paul Russell Schwedler of Chevy Chase, 81, passed peacefully at Sibley Hospital, in Washington D.C. on

June 20, 2022.

His mother worked for the Government Printing Office, and his father helped construct the Pentagon.

From this foundation, Paul spent his life serving-- as class president, in the Navy, the Department of

Defense, on condo association boards, reading for the blind, and the countless times he volunteered to

assist with his children’s sports and other activities.

Paul attended Gonzaga College High School and earned a scholarship to Georgetown University. But on

the heels of Sputnik, his mother pushed him instead to attend Catholic University, where a degree in

engineering could “help beat the Russians.” At both schools he met lifelong friends and proved himself

a gifted student of mischief, though not an engineer.

After college, Paul volunteered for the Navy and served as a lieutenant on the U.S.S. Ogden. From there

he returned to CU to earn his law degree. Highlights of his career included working as a defense

attorney in Montgomery County, for the Department of Defense, and for the National Border Control

Council.

Paul is survived by his wife of 32 years, Nancy Shalett, his sister Elaine Fitzpatrick of Detroit, MI, two of

his three children, Kristin Hansen (Patrick) and Jon Schwedler (Jennifer), grandchildren Jake, Zack, Erika,

Luke, and Isaac, of Sacramento, CA, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his

parents, May Costello Schwedler and Paul Erhard Schwedler of Bethesda, MD, and his older son Paul

Christopher Schwedler of Silver Spring, MD.

Paul loved spending time with his family and many friends, especially at Bethany Beach. He also enjoyed

traveling, reading, providing driving directions that would put Waze to shame, and savoring the Nats’

2019 World Series victory for long-suffering Washington baseball fans. Above all, Paul will be

remembered for his irrepressible ability to find humor in the absurdities of life, a trait his children

gratefully inherited.

In a city of cold stone monuments, Paul’s life was a living monument to the kind of service many

generations of Washingtonians have provided this capital city and nation, and the ideals they are

founded upon. We will miss him terribly.

Paul will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. In the meantime, friends are

encouraged to offer memories online via www.devolfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to JSSA, which cared for his son Paul, via

www.JSSA.org.