Charles B. Swartwood

The Honorable Charles B. Swartwood was born at home in Elmira, NY on May 11, 1915, the son of the late Chemung County Court Judge and Surrogate, Charles B. Swartwood Sr. and Mary Elizabeth (Carroll), died Thursday, November 21, 2013. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Beulah "Boots" Washburn; sons, Jonathan in 1974 and Peter H. in 2002; sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen Tryntje (Swartwood) and S. Harrison Rollinson and Mary Catherine (Swartwood) and William W. Sinclaire. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 1/2 years, Nancy (Knerr) Swartwood; daughters, Caroline "Muff" (Swartwood) and William R. Blash of Connecticut; Penelope "Penny" (Swartwood) Brewer of Elmira; sons, (Ret.) US Chief Magistrate Judge Charles B. Swartwood III (Heidi Baracsi) of Massachusetts; Slater W. (Kathryn) Swartwood of Louisiana; Mark D. (Cheryl) Tillinghast of Florida; brother and sister-in-law. William G. and Jean Knerr of Pennsylvania; along with many grand's, great grand's, several nieces and nephews. Judge Swartwood attended schools in Elmira and graduated from Fessenden Class of 1931, Andover Class of 1935, attended Princeton University and graduated from Cornell University in 1939. He then graduated in the Class of 1942 at Cornell Law School. Served aboard the Dennis J. Buckley (DD808) in both the Atlantic and Pacific during WW II. He was a lawyer with the Buck Firm before becoming a New York State Supreme Court Justice and was a director in the Washburn Company in Worcester, MA. Then was a Judicial Hearing Officer and worked for CASP of the Appellate Division in Albany. Page 2He retired at the age of 91 on the last day of his work with CASP. At one time he was the Chairman of the Board at the Neighborhood House. He was Trustee at the Law Library which was named after him in 1992. A Memorial Service honoring his life will take place at a date and time to be determined in the Grace Episcopal Church 375 West Church Street where the Reverend Father Donald W. Matthews, Rector will celebrate Judge Swartwood's service. He will be laid rest privately in Woodlawn Cemetery where the Chemung County Veteran's Honor Squad will accord him Military Honors for his service to his country in the US Navy. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be directed to the Community Foundation of Elmira, Corning and the Fingerlakes Inc. 307 B East Water Street Elmira, NY 14901. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Olthof Funeral Home, Inc. 1050 Pennsylvania Ave. Elmira/Southport, NY 14904. Judge Swartwood's guestbook may be signed in obituaries at www.olthof.com