ROBERT NEIL SWARTZ
ROBERT NEIL SWARTZ
On February 20, 2005, I lost my brother and a great friend. Rob was a great guy with a great family - his wife, his kids, his wife's kids, lots of kids that called him dad, softball buddies, horse buddies, friends of all types and family - you name it, Rob had a tremendous circle of people that loved him a lot! Literally, hundreds of persons will miss him! And, bro, I am going to miss you too - a lot!
Regrettably, too, some of his children now have spouses and grandchildren that he never knew.
Below are stories and pictures of a couple of Rob's interests, his horses and softball.
Horses
There are pictures below that show him with his horse, Miss, that he loved very much.
ROB SWARTZ WAVING FROM HIS HORSE MISS
ROB SWARTZ GIVING MISS A BIG KISS
Softball
One of Rob's great interests was in softball. For many years, he sponsored a team under the name of Swartz Printing Company. He purchased an old bus and they traveled around mostly Kansas for many years playing in many tournments. Below are some pictures of a softball field that he built on the property that he bought from our mother and step-father that I mentioned in my mother's story in the genealogy section.
SWARTZ SPORTS COMPLEX BACKSTOP & BLEACHERS
SWARTZ SPORTS COMPLEX BACKSTOP & BLEACHERS
SWARTZ SPORTS COMPLEX OUTFIELD
Whenever Rob had a group visiting, he would put out these flags, just like you might see in a professional ball diamond!
Rob Swartz Memorial Field Sign
Rob Swartz Memorial Field Sign with His Softball Buddies
Balloon Launch Memorial Table
After Rob's death a memorial sign was erected behind the back stop of the softball field that he built. At some point there was a get-together to honor Rob's life. Many of his softball family showed up. The group shown in the picture to the left are but a small number of those that attended the event.
Rob had donated his body to the Kansas City Osteopathic Medical School and when they were done with it, he was cremated and his ashes returned to the family. His ashes were spread on the softball field that he had built and balloons of rememberance were released. Each person spread his ashes where they wanted. Growing up, I had played a lot at second base, so that is where I spread my share of his ashes.
The picture of the table at the left is of some of the supplies necessary for the balloon release. Just a note, however, all this happened many years ago. Lately, it has become apparent that these balloon releases can be injurious to wildlife, domesticated animals and the environment, but the thought at the time seemed extremely compassionate.