Landmark Saddened By Loss of Ged Schweikert

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - G. Edward "Ged" Schweikert III, died June 15, 2008 at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, after an eight-year battle with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the immune system. For 28 years, Ged served Susquehanna with distinction and compassion as associate professor of psychology and the university's first and only head swimming coach. He will be deeply missed as a teacher and friend.

Ged was born Jan. 23, 1943, in Texarkana , Texas , the only son of the late George Edward Schweikert Jr. and Eleanor Fleming Schweikert. He grew up in Akron, Ohio, and graduated in 1964 from the College of Wooster with a degree in psychology. While at Wooster, he starred on the men's swimming team and was selected as an All-American in the butterfly. He completed his Master of Arts degree and Ph.D. in experimental psychology at Kent State University .

Ged came to Susquehanna in 1970 and built a legacy as a distinguished teacher, dedicated coach, supportive mentor and valued colleague. The joy he found in working with his students and student-athletes was evident to everyone. A strong advocate for undergraduate psychology research, Ged worked with many student researchers over the years, which often resulted in collaborative presentations at professional conferences. Ged served two terms as chairman of the psychology department, one term as faculty representative to the Board of Directors, and was a long-standing member of the university's animal welfare committee as well as the Greek recognition board. He will also be remembered for helping to establish the Department of Psychology's honors program.

In September 2007, Ged retired from teaching and was granted emeritus status by the Board of Trustees. Retirement allowed Ged to pursue his passion for coaching full time. He coached countless athletes, in many cases changing the direction of their lives while always emphasizing personal growth over wins and losses. His uncompromising demand for team unity, respect for all opponents, and respect for the sport as a whole shaped the lives of three decades of student-athletes who competed as Susquehanna swimmers. A real measure of Ged's success was the number of students he kept in his program year after year: attitude and sportsmanship were in many ways more important to Ged than the number of personal records his swimmers attained. In the words of Dickinson College coach Paul Richards, Ged was truly the "gentleman" of competitive swimming.

In recognition of these accomplishments and his ability to build and maintain a positive and inclusive team environment, his peers in the Middle Atlantic Conference elected him Coach of the Year in 2000, 2005 and 2007. His coaching career culminated in the 2007-08 season when the Susquehanna men's team posted an undefeated season – the only undefeated SU swim team and the first undefeated SU athletic team in a decade – and placed second in the newly formed Landmark Conference championships.

Over the years, Ged's love of Susquehanna, his students and his family became seamlessly woven. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Mary Louise, who supported Ged's students and endeavors at Susquehanna every step of the way; their son, G. Edward IV (Gedd), a member of the Class of 1995; his daughter-in-law, Jennifer Bradbury Schweikert, a member of the Class of 1999; his grandson, Alexander; and countless former students and swimmers who considered Ged a “Dad” away from home.

A memorial celebration of Ged's life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21 in Stretansky Concert Hall, Cunningham Center for Music and Art (Heilman Hall), Susquehanna University. A second ceremony is tentatively scheduled for October 5 as part of Susquehanna's Homecoming weekend. Details are forthcoming.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Dr. G. Edward Schweikert III Swimming Endowment, in care of Susquehanna University, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870. The endowment will be used to fund activities that will continue Ged's legacy of helping others believe in themselves.