Obituary of Paul S. Swartz

PAUL STEWART SWARTZ Longtime Schenectady resident Paul S. Swartz, co-founder and past President of Intermagnetics General Corporation of Guilderland and past President of Congregation Gates of Heaven of Schenectady, passed away in Florida on February 20 after a long illness. He was 77. Mr. Swartz was born in Lynn, MA in June 1934 to Martin and Eva Swartz. He earned a Bachelor of Science (Physics) from Harvard College in 1955 and a Masters in Science (Physics) from Tufts University in 1957. Mr. Swartz moved to Schenectady in 1957 and worked for the next decade at the General Electric Research and Development Center, where he worked in metal casting and superconductivity. Mr. Swartz helped develop several patented technologies during this period. After a brief stint working for Computer Applications, Inc. in Albany, Mr. Swartz co-founded Intermagnetics General Corporation in 1971. Between 1971 and 1984 Mr. Swartz served successively as the company's Vice President for Marketing and Sales, President, and Chief Executive Officer. From 1985 to 1994 Mr. Swartz was Principal Finance Associate with NY State Science and Technology Foundation, a State-operated venture capital fund. Between 1994 and 1998 he was Acting Manager of the NY State Small Business Technology Investment Fund, after which he served for three years as a referee and consultant to the Advanced Technology Program of the US Department of Commerce. In 2005 Mr. Swartz founded CREF (Capital Region Energy Forum), which provided a forum for considering a wide range of views on contemporary energy issues. Between 2004 and 2010, he was a frequent lecturer on energy subjects at Union College Adult Life Learning (UCALL). Mr. Swartz was a frequent speaker at other venues, including the Torch Club and an Energy Series at Empire State College in Saratoga (ALL) in 2010. He also served as Program Chair at Langmuir, GE's retirement activities forum. Mr. Swartz was a member of Congregation Gates of Heaven for over fifty years, serving for over thirty years as a member of the Congregation's Board of Directors. For many years Mr. Swartz was Chair of the Social Action Committee, where he was instrumental in establishing the Temple Community Service Corps, the Leisure Club, the Passport to Israel program, and the Saturday morning Torah study program. Mr. Swartz also served as Chair of the Congregation's Ritual and Guardian Committees and as co-Chair of the Adult Education Committee. He was very active in the Temple Brotherhood and was the longtime Chair of its Breakfast Program Committee; under his leadership Brotherhood received national awards for the quality and breadth of its programing. From 1994 to 1997 Mr. Swartz served as the President of the congregation. He was honored in 2002 with the Congregation's Distinguished Service award. In 1964 Mr. Swartz helped found Volunteers in Technical Assistance, a nonprofit international development organization that worked for over forty years to empower the poor and fostering self-sufficiency in developing countries. Mr. Swartz was an avid golfer, contract bridge player, and philatelist. Mr. Swartz is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Ruthann Bucher of New Kensington, PA; children Martin Swartz (Michelle) of Silver Spring, MD; Jennifer Adams (Jon) of Titusville, FL; Jonathan Swartz of Isle of Palms, SC; Denise Bucher of Colonie; Troy Bucher of Greeneville; and Miki Fretto (John) of Brunswick; brother Norman Swartz (Sylvia) of Vancouver, Canada; and nine grandchildren. Mr. Swartz was pre-deceased by his sister Teresa Goodlife of Kingston. Services at Congregation Gates of Heaven, 852 Ashmore Avenue in Schenectady, NY at 10:00am on Monday February 27th.. Charitable donations may be made to Congregation Gates of Heaven, Paul S. Swartz Memorial Lecture Fund.