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(News story) JOHNSON'S ISLAND, Ohio - Roy S. Swartz, a teacher and then principal in the Fostoria school system who volunteered to preserve a historic Civil War landmark in Sandusky Bay, died Saturday in Magruder Hospital, Port Clinton. He was 91.
He'd been in declining health for much of the last year and lived at Otterbein North Shore senior community at Lakeside-Marblehead, his son Stanley said. Mr. Swartz bought property on Johnson's Island after retiring in 1980 and built his dream house - pounding nails, pouring concrete.
"He was very independent," said his son, who has a summer place next door.
Mr. Swartz was a founding board member of Friends and Descendants of Johnson's Island Civil War Prison, which since the late 1980s has worked to preserve the prisoner of war depot that between 1862-65 held more than 10,000 Confederate officers. The site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990.
"He had a great sense of history, and the site is a phenomenally important Civil War site," said David Bush, board chairman of the friends and descendants group.
Mr. Swartz believed some island residents didn't give the site its due, while "he was a big vocal advocate for preservation of the site and to have a museum there," said Mr. Bush, a professor of anthropology at Heidelberg University in Tiffin and director of its Center for Historic and Military Archaeology. When middle school and high school students were at the site to experience a dig, Mr. Swartz photographed the artifacts uncovered and spoke with the students.
"He was used to trying to present younger students the importance of history and of understanding our past," Mr. Bush said. "That heavily influenced why he was so involved and interested."
Mr. Swartz made his career in the Fostoria schools. He taught at Longfellow and Holmes schools and was principal at Field and Longfellow schools. He was principal of the junior high for about a decade. He also coached boys' basketball.
Having been a teacher, as principal "he was able to support teachers," said his son, a professor at the California State University at San Bernardino who taught at Ottawa-Glandorf High School.
"He valued principals who were more supportive than others," his son said. "He was a detail-oriented person, and if you were to visit his school, the janitor would speak as highly of him as the teachers."
He was regularly greeted by former students. His son went to a high school reunion last year, and the first thing his classmates asked was, "'How's your dad doing?'"
Mr. Swartz believed education "was preferable to other kinds of occupations," his son said. "You can impact a large number of people's lives and never have to cheat them or lie to them or sneak up on them. He saw it as a service to the community."
He was born March 28, 1925, to Esta and Floyd Swartz and grew up near Cygnet, Ohio. After graduating from Cygnet High School, he enlisted in the Army. He served in Gen. George S. Patton's 3rd Army in Europe and received a Bronze Star. He was a machine-gunner and saw a lot of direct combat, but spoke little of his service.
He worked a variety of factory jobs after the war, but was encouraged by a former teacher to become a teacher. He attended Bowling Green State University on the GI Bill. He received a bachelor of science degree in education in 1952 and a master of education degree in 1959.
He was a member of the Fostoria Masonic Lodge and a former member of the Fostoria High Street United Methodist Church.
On July 31, 1946, he married Lucille Hoffman Eckert, a World War II widow with a young daughter. His wife died March 31, 1996. Daughter Darla Ritchey died in 2016.
Surviving are sons Stanley, Rick, and Brian; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home, Port Clinton, with visitation after 9:30 a.m. and Masonic services at 9:45 a.m.
The family suggests tributes to the Friends and Descendants of Johnson's Island Civil War Prison.
This is a news story by Blade staff writer Mark Zaborney. Contact him at: [email protected] or 419-724-6182.
10 Entries
Jane K
February 15, 2017
Jane K
February 15, 2017
Jane K
February 15, 2017
Jane K
February 15, 2017
Jane K
February 15, 2017
Roy was our 1st friend when we moved to JI 1999. He was our friend and teacher. We enjoyed social activities together. 2016 his health declined. Our visits with him at Otterbein are cherished. We made sure he had a Christmas tree and his tv bed side speaker his gift. You will be fondly remembered.
Dave and Jane Keener
February 11, 2017
As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.
February 11, 2017
God's speed to Heaven, love,and peace. Rick and Peg Swartz and family <3
Peg Swartz
February 9, 2017
The folks on Johnson Island will miss him.
February 8, 2017
Roy Swartz was a member of the Coffee Club in Marblehead with Charlie Wolfe, Gaylord Braithwaite, Mills Brandes, my father John Wonnell, and no doubt others. Roy was always caring and friendly towards people. As a peacetime veteran I greatly respect his service and surviving in Patton's army.
Don Wonnell, Sylvania Ohio
Don Wonnell
February 8, 2017
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Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory - Port Clinton216 Washington Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452
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Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory - Port Clinton216 Washington Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452
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Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory - Port Clinton216 Washington Street, Port Clinton, OH 43452
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