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Sister, Diane Babcock posted a condolence
Monday, November 26, 2018
George Alan Schwemlein, M.D.
Thank you all for expressing your sympathy and support in this time of our family’s great sorrow.
Alan was in good health, exercised regularly, rode his bike on roads in IH and was very happy in his retirement Especially happy since Pat retired and they could do things together.
He enjoyed their second home in Wilmington, NC where the family could congregate and where he docked a small fishing boat. They had just recently spent several weeks there and had visited their son’s family in Washington.
Life was good for Alan. In a moment it changed for all. It’s been a shock for his wife of 35 years Pat, his sons, Jamie and Jake, his sisters (Diane Judi and Linda) and his friends.
He had been going thru family albums and photos which were spread out over the dining room table. Since Friday, I have been going thru them and digitizing them for future generations. While doing so, I have relived our childhood and family life and gained great appreciation for how fortunate we were and are.
I’d like to share some of this with you- so please look at the selected photos on display.
We (Alan, Judi, Linda and I) grew up in Wyoming, a northern suburb of Cincinnati, and had a happy, privileged, but not indulged childhood. Very much like Norman Rockwell paintings.
Our parents-Edna and George Schwemlein -were very conservative (second generation Cincinnati German) who remembered and sometimes spoke of the depression. Our father, a physician who grew up in Norwood was afraid of being poor til the day he died.
Our Mother, who had worked for PG in the 30s and early 40s, bought stock at that time, was also conservative, but could on a whim buy houses and expensive jewelry. She was a graduate of UC’s commercial engineering school (now business school degree) and worked as an executive secretary to the top management in Ivorydale til she married at age about 30. And began having a family.
She grew up in a small town in Indiana and on a farm. They waited to marry until my father finished medical school and residency. Medical students and residents could not marry at that time and lived in the hospital (1940).
Shortly after their marriage my father was stationed in Chicago during WWII where they used heat chambers to treat infectious disease. So, they lived in Chicago for several years then moved back to Cincinnati.
We grew up in Wyoming, a small town, and went K-12 in the same building on Wyoming ave. Classes were small about 100-125, and most went on to college. Alan played on the football team, I was a majorette and in the band, and every Friday night after the game we went to the Wyoming Civic Center to celebrate our many victories.
Our father was a physician (internal medicine and cardiologist). He had a simple, quiet practice. Made rounds on his hospital patients early every morning at Christ Hospital and started seeing patients at 11 in the office, had a sandwich at noon for half hour sitting at his desk, and finished at 5. We all sat down to dinner at 6:00. Food was simple- meat, veg and potato. We then studied or practiced sports.
That was the routine M-F, no office hours on weekends but he rounded on hospital patients Saturday and Sunday morning. It was a rewarding and stress free practice. Patients loved him and he them, for the most part. He was very involved in the hospital medical staff politics and served as President of Staff at The Christ Hospital and of the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine in the 50s and 60s.
Our Mother ran the house, finances and family, bought and sold homes on her own, invested successfully in local stock, loved to garden and have animals. Thus we had an assortment of dogs, cats, and even banty chickens (Rosco). She even bought us a horse when we pleaded for one. Alan and I shared our horse Lady until Alan got his driver’s license. Then he lost interest in horses. Mom actually chose her cars based on Alan’s wishes- a red Pontiac convertible once. A tourquoise GTO convertible another time. And of course he drove us to Frisch’s. What ever we needed- musical instruments- they bought us the best , but were very conservative with their own clothes. Dad every 2 years bought a new plain green Chevy with stick shift.
Our Father did not want to leave his patients or travel, so they bought a cottage at Ryland KY and we spent our summers there. 5 lakes, 9 hole golf, small club house, tennis courts and a barn for horses. A group of friends to play with.
Our Mother ran the household, finances and family, essentially by herself. Dad was always working. We occasionally went on day trips to Kentucky to see the horse farms and famous sites. Typical family life for the time.
Alan went on to Hanover College in Indiana- a small liberal arts school. Besides studying, he played football and enjoyed socializing with his fraternity brothers at Beta Theta Pi. Alan loved cars and was given Mom’s old turquoise blue GTO convertible to drive his senior year.
When we expressed an interest in medicine, our parents supported us financially to that end, so we graduated with no debt, in contrast to most medical students today. Alan attended medical school at UC and went on to residency in ob/gyn at The Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. He then returned to Cincinnati to serve his hometown. He was a beloved colleague and physician in private practice and at The Christ Hospital for 43 years.
In retirement he became a teacher and taught physiology and the medical sciences at the Christ Hospital School of Nursing and at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. He volunteered for more than 20 years at the Natural History Museum at the Museum Center teaching visitors about fossils and dinosaurs. He was very excited about the museum center reopening.
Alan, we are so sad that we lost you so young. We are glad we were able to have lunch last Wednesday and all were well that day.
There are many photos of you, but you look the happiest driving a boat, holding up a big fish that you had caught, and playing with your grandsons.
DSB:11/14/2018
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Patrick Marmion MD posted a condolence
Saturday, November 17, 2018
What a wonderful man — imaginative, humble and always ready to do the right thing. I am glad that I could call him a friend.
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Anne Host posted a condolence
Thursday, November 15, 2018
I am so sorry to hear, the sudden loss of your husband. There are no words.
Prayers to you and your family.
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Carol Suhre posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Dr. Schwemlein was my OB/GYN for many years until his retirement. He was a gentle man & a gentleman. I had to be induced due to high blood pressure. He was sure there was no reason to wait & convinced me that Friday, April 6, 1990 was a great day to welcome our daughter, Jaime. Later he suggested we put an aquarium in Jaime's room to help her go to sleep. I saw Dr. Schwemlein a few years ago at the Cincinnati Museum Center. I am sure he would have heartily approved of the updating. God Bless him on his new journey. Deep Sympathy to his family.
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Dorrie Meckes posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
The Class of 1965 was priviledged to call Alan a friend. We shared many good times from elementary school onward. We attended football and basketball games, Corral, band concerts, and interacting with each other. Alan will always hold a special place in my/our hearts as a beloved member of the Class of 1965. Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of our friend, Alan.
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Vicky Schwemlein Chesshire lit a candle
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
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In loving memory of my cousin, Alan Schwemlein.
Those we hold closest to our hearts never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they have shared and the love they brought into our lives.
~ Author Unknown
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Kaye Dickston posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
I remember Alan fondly and send sympathies to his family.
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Jack McMaken posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Alan and I were great friends in high school. He was a very gentle man and related easily with all people he came in contact with. Everyone loved Alan. He was fun, generous, compassionate and a friend to all...a great example of "A life well-lived", but much too short.
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james geehring posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
I grew fonder of him as I grew to know him, I will hold my memories of him in a place of fondness and respect.
Sincerely James Geehring
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Barbara Aluotto posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
So sorry to hear of Dr. Schwemlein’s sudden and tragic death. He was my doctor until he retired, and Dr. Cook also was my doctor until she retired. I’m so sorry that your retirement years together were shortened.
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The family of George Alan Schwemlein uploaded a photo
Monday, November 12, 2018
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