Obituary
Ronald Mark Swartz, 76, died peacefully on May 25, following prolonged lung disease. For over 40 years, Ron served on the faculty of Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan as a Professor of Education and Philosophy.
A student of philosophers such as Karl Popper, A.S. Neill, Joseph Agassi, and Thomas Szasz, Ron envisioned a world in which values like self-determination, autonomy, democracy, and fallibilism guided education and informed understandings of mental health.
As a true student of life, Ron used all his experiences to inform his books, essays, dialogues, and poems. He hoped that his ideas "illuminated a small aspect of this infinite labyrinth we call our world," and that, although "our quest for better theories is unending," we continue to strive for these ideals together.
Ron is survived by his wife of over 50 years Susan (nee Rosenbaum), daughter Marla (Allen) Morgen, grandchildren Dana and Ian, brother Barry (Sharon) Swartz, and countless family, lifelong friends, colleagues, and students. He is preceded in death by his parents Sylvia (nee Diamond) and Ivan Swartz and brother Robert Swartz. May his memory be for a blessing.
Service Tuesday, May 31, 2022,10 AM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd, (at Niles Center Road), Skokie. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ACLU, ACLU Development, 125 Broad St. 18th FL, New York, NY 10004, www.aclu.org, Greater Chicago Food Depository, 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, IL 60632, www.chicagosfoodbank.org or the charity of your choosing. To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com
Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals. www.chicagojewishfunerals.com