Robert Newell Swartz

Growing up in Grand Rapids, Rob attended South High School. It was while reading To Kill a Mockingbird, that he knew he wanted to become a lawyer. His time at Michigan State University made Rob a Spartan for life. He would go on to get his law degree from Indiana University, but his heart still belonged to the Green & White.

Rob began his career working with Legal Aid of Grand Rapids. Later, he loved being an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan, allowing him to travel all over West Michigan and experience many small town courthouses. However, the true passion of his career was helping kids at the Juvenile Court in Grand Rapids alongside Judge John Steketee. A former Juvenile Court colleague of Rob’s recently said to Rita, “If I had a child that needed an attorney, I would want Rob Swartz on the case.” Even after retirement, he remained a member of the Michigan Bar Association.

A man of vast interests, Rob was known for his love of SCUBA diving, boating on Lake Michigan, traveling, (as long as it was to Paris, the Florida Keys, or Washington, D.C.), as well as the challenge of a lunchtime game of backgammon on Monroe Mall with one of his colleagues. He enjoyed chess, completing crossword puzzles, reading, listening to his music, and history, especially regarding the Civil War. He was also a runner, a biker and a swimmer and completed the Reeds Lake Triathlon as well as the Old Kent Riverbank Run. Rob was known for his impeccable taste in attire from his buddy Dave Barney’s store, and was often considered the best dressed lawyer in town.

Rob was a life- long active member of the YMCA. He was a proponent of what the YMCA stands for within his community and encouraged his wife and daughters to participate and be active with all the Y has to offer.

The devoted Michigan State fan made MSU a family affair. His wife, all three daughters and two of three sons-in-law hold degrees from Michigan State. The loving Papa of three grandchildren, he has his fingers crossed in hopes that their college acceptance letters will also bear the MSU logo someday.

Rob fiercely loved his whole family, especially Rita, his wife of more than fifty years. He is also survived by his daughters: Jessica (James Baker) Swartz, Katie (Stephen) Kaczmarek and Leah (Jeff) Strapec; his grandchildren: Lucia Baker, Ethan Kaczmarek and Zelda Strapec, and his brothers Barry (Becky) Swartz, and Larry, Randy & Bobby Paskewicz. He will also be missed by longtime and devoted family friends Bob and Mary Jane Bolle. Rob was preceded in death by his sister Sandy Swartz, his parents, and his step-mother Nancy Oosterink Swartz.

He will forever be remembered as "The Papa."