SWEITZER Gary Sweitzer, PhD, 63, of New Albany, unexpectedly left our world to be with the Lord Saturday, April 18, 2009. Gary was born March 19, 1946, in Sharon, Pa., to Margarette Eunice and Carl Sweitzer. Gary grew up in the Youngstown area and graduated from Hubbard High School as Valedictorian. Gary was awarded the Eagle Scout his junior year. He then moved to Columbus to attend the Ohio State University on a full scholarship. He earned his BS in Chemistry and Education in 1968 and was a Phi Kappa Phi. He went on to receive his Master's Degree in Education. He was associated with ERIC Systems-Educational Resource Information Center at OSU where he did educational research. He began teaching in the Upper Arlington School District, (1970-1993) where he taught Chemistry, AP Chemistry and Physics and planned and conducted the annual Science Fairs. When students were anxious about Chemistry, he developed the motto 'Chemistry is Fun and Easy!' and had this as a plaque. He was awarded Teacher of the Year, 1988-1989, at Upper Arlington Schools. He went on to become the Curriculum Coordinator at Upper Arlington Schools. During this time, Gary also was a part-time instructor at Columbus State Community College for 20 years, having taught Chemistry and Physics. He received his Ph.D. in 1984 in Meta-Analysis from the Ohio State University. In 1993, Dr. Ralph Johnson, a former colleague at Upper Arlington Schools, who then had become Superintendent of New Albany Schools, recruited Gary to become the Director of Curriculum, Planning and Technology for the New Albany School system and essentially be his right-hand man. This was a perfect fit because of Gary's critical thinking skills, vast experience in all aspects of Education, Technology, Human Resources and his love of life-long learning, making sure that kids always mattered! Dr. Johnson and Gary worked diligently to restructure and create an innovative educational environment for the New Albany Schools which then became a renown educational school of excellence and Blue Ribbon district. Gary retired from New Albany Schools in 2004 and continued as a consultant until 2006. He then began working at the Educational Services Center as a School Improvement Facilitator until 2008 at which time he started his own educational consulting company providing services to school districts throughout the State. Gary had been an Adjunct Professor at OSU and most recently, taught Chinese Education students quality teaching methods, curriculum planning, leadership and research. Throughout his career, Gary was asked to speak and present seminars and workshops for teachers in school districts throughout Columbus and the state of Ohio in the areas of Professional Development, Curriculum Development, Critical Thinking, Concept Mapping, Learning styles and much more. Gary also worked with McGraw-Hill, editing and co-authoring many science and math textbooks. He has published and co-authored many professional articles as well. He highly esteemed the author Dr. Seymour Papert, Ph.D., who first proposed computers in the classroom in the 1960's and developed the 21st Century Learning Lab at MIT. Gary had such an extreme love and vision for learning and teaching. He believed that ALL children can learn anything with the right support, encouragement, learning environment and teaching quality which he made happen everywhere he went. He always said that 'a good teacher never stops wanting to learn' and that the teacher needs to become the student so that they fully understand how each individual student learns. He loved his books especially educational and historical. Lifelong member of Assoc. for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Gary was an amazing, loving and intelligent man who would always try to help someone. Preceded in death by his parents, brother Keith, and infant sister Linda. Survived by his loving and devoted wife, Kimber; cherished and loved daughters, Kalia Nicole and Kortney Noelle Sweitzer of New Albany; parents-in-law, Lee and Patricia Gemienhardt of Reynoldsburg, whom Gary loved Lee as his own father; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Kristy and Brian Sontchi of Batavia, Ill.; niece, Stacey Sweitzer of Columbus; Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Paul McDade of Fredonia, Pa.; cousins, Patricia Frye and Janet McDade of Mercer, Pa., Carol Sweitzer McCarthy (Brian) of Florida, Dave Sweitzer (Cindy) of Toledo, Oreg. Also survived by his extraordinary friends, Bill Resch, Ralph Johnson, Jon Stonebraker, Bill Somerlot and Andy Moore; and his loyal furry companions, Sunshine, Noelle, and Tootsie. A Memorial Service in Celebration of Gary's life will be held at the McCoy Performing Arts Center, 100 W. Granville Street, New Albany, Oh., Thursday, April 30, 2009, at 4 p.m. Pastor Adam Babcock officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the New Albany Foundation for The Dr. Gary Sweitzer Collection within the Kathryn Borghi Digital Library at New Albany; his memory honored through the website and his book collection.
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