Harold Swartz

Harold Swartz, a long-time Lab employee and Livermore resident, died Aug. 31 from complications after open heart surgery. He was 61.

Born May 17, 1948 in Beech Grove, Ind., he graduated from Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis. He moved to Livermore in 2002 from Walnut Creek.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1989. While in the Army, he served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War. He served at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; NATO Headquarters in Belgium; in Korea; and also at the Presidio in San Francisco, among other locations.

He was a kennel master while in the Army. He loved working with dogs all his life. He retired as a staff sergeant in the military police.

Swartz was a Contra Costa County Reserve Deputy Sheriff volunteer for 28 years prior to and during his time at LLNL, where he was a Protective Security Officer for 10 years, and then a Security alarms tester for 7 years.

Due to a severe stroke in August 2006, Swartz retired from the Laboratory and from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.

He began visiting the Veterans Administration hospital in May 2007 with Pat Wheeler of the Valley Humane Society Therapy Dog Program and was the handler for Wheeler’s dog, Lawrence.

Swartz had three deaf, vision-impaired miniature dachshunds, Angel, Petie, and Lily, that he worked with each day, along with his wife’s Chihuahua, Rita.

Swartz is survived by his wife, Karen Ballou of Livermore; a stepsister Tamara Swartz of Indianapolis, Ind.; his sons, Joe Swartz of Swartz Creek, Mich.; James and Larisa Swartz of Walnut Creek, Calif.; a daughter Teri Roeder of Fairfield, Calif.; 7 grandchildren, Johannah Swartz, Daniel Swartz, and Isaac Swartz of Indianapolis, Ind.; Annabel Roeder and Caleb Roeder of Portland Ore.; Shannen Swartz of Walnut Creek, Calif.; and Kathryn Swartz of Swartz Creek, Mich. He also leaves behind extended family in Indiana.

A memorial service was held Sept. 5.