Richard N. Schwab (“Dick”), aged 86, passed away on November 24, 2021, after spending time with family members.
He developed a passion for theater during high school, working behind the scenes as a technician. His sole onstage appearance was in Arsenic and Old Lace, where he delivered a single line before his character was poisoned.
At Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Schwab initially pursued lighting design for professional theater. However, his graduate studies shifted his focus toward vision science, leading him to earn a master’s degree in Physiological Optics from Ohio State University. He spent 30 years researching how people see and drive in challenging conditions with the Federal Highway Administration, earning recognition from the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America with a gold medal.
Shortly after graduating from Antioch, Schwab met Rochelle Hollander (Shelly) ’63 at a folk dance. Rather than dancing, they talked throughout the evening and subsequently married four months later. The couple celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2021.
Throughout his professional and family life, Schwab remained active in community theater as a technician and eventually as a producer until the COVID-19 pandemic.
He is survived by his wife Shelly, two daughters (Wendy Thong and Jill Schwab), and three grandchildren. The family requests contributions be directed to Antioch College.