Obituary for Allen Irving Swartz
SWARTZ, Allen I. of Hingham, formerly of Malden, Revere and North Falmouth, 94, died on Wednesday, December 12. He is best remembered for his intellectual curiosity, deep wisdom, and love of life. Born in Malden in 1924, Allen who grew up on the same street as Emma (Mariasis) who later became his beloved wife, married for 71 years. Devoted father of Mitchell Swartz and wife Gayle, Ann Levin & husband Larry, and Susan Woods & husband Barry. Adored grandfather of Michael & wife Kate, Gregory & wife Priya, Jared, Marshall, Joshua, and David. Cherished great grandfather of Norah, Sadie, and Benjamin. Beloved brother of the late Sally Rosenberg, Molinda Aronson, and Gerald & Jack Swartz.
A proud WWII Veteran, Allen served in the Pacific as Staff Sergeant in the 145th Army Airways Communication System. After graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ('50 and '51 MS; PE) he enjoyed a successful career as an engineer, metallurgist, inventor and businessman. He contributed to the development of commercial semiconductors and ultimately computers by growing germanium crystals first used in transistors. As co-founder of Tra-Con, Inc., formerly of Medford MA, he composed and supplied material used in heat shields on the Space Shuttle protecting astronaut descent. Allen had a craving for public interest and was committed to public advocacy, founding and publishing a free weekly newspaper, the Malden Sun Times; he served as alternate Delegate at the 19th Democratic National Convention. He enjoyed skiing, geology, growing crystals, and was a judge at the Boston Globe Science Fair. Allen was an artist, voracious reader, and a member of the Toastmasters for years. He had a sharp wit and relished spending long hours discussing history, science, politics, philosophy and just about anything else. A genuine member of the Greatest Generation, Allen will be deeply missed. Services will be held Sunday, December 16 at 2:00 pm at the Chapel of Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon MA. Condolence calls may be made Sunday at the home of Ann Levin until 7 PM, or Monday 11 to 2 at Linden Ponds Oak Leaf Classroom, Hingham, MA. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider a donation to the Anti-Defamation League www.adl.org or Beacon Hospice, Plymouth, MA www.amedisys.com .
A proud WWII Veteran, Allen served in the Pacific as Staff Sergeant in the 145th Army Airways Communication System. After graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ('50 and '51 MS; PE) he enjoyed a successful career as an engineer, metallurgist, inventor and businessman. He contributed to the development of commercial semiconductors and ultimately computers by growing germanium crystals first used in transistors. As co-founder of Tra-Con, Inc., formerly of Medford MA, he composed and supplied material used in heat shields on the Space Shuttle protecting astronaut descent. Allen had a craving for public interest and was committed to public advocacy, founding and publishing a free weekly newspaper, the Malden Sun Times; he served as alternate Delegate at the 19th Democratic National Convention. He enjoyed skiing, geology, growing crystals, and was a judge at the Boston Globe Science Fair. Allen was an artist, voracious reader, and a member of the Toastmasters for years. He had a sharp wit and relished spending long hours discussing history, science, politics, philosophy and just about anything else. A genuine member of the Greatest Generation, Allen will be deeply missed. Services will be held Sunday, December 16 at 2:00 pm at the Chapel of Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon MA. Condolence calls may be made Sunday at the home of Ann Levin until 7 PM, or Monday 11 to 2 at Linden Ponds Oak Leaf Classroom, Hingham, MA. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider a donation to the Anti-Defamation League www.adl.org or Beacon Hospice, Plymouth, MA www.amedisys.com .