Laura Swartz

Laura Swartz passed away peacefully on November 27th in Los Alamos. She is survived by her daughter, Stacey Swartz Gauny, who lives in the Los Alamos family home. Laura was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Blair Swartz.

Laura was born in 1931 and grew up in Pottsville, PA. She received a B.A. in Geology from Antioch College where she met her soon-to-be husband, Blair. They were married in 1955. After graduation Laura worked for The Chicago Natural History Museum and then the U.S. Geological Survey in Washington D.C. Laura and Blair moved to Los Alamos in 1958 so that Blair could take a job at LASL.

Laura and Blair loved the New Mexico outdoors and made their home in Los Alamos. They designed and built one of the early homes on Barranca Mesa, when the area was first opened, and they never left. Laura loved to work in her yard and walk in the canyons and mountains with her family.

Laura was a long-time volunteer, first for the Wildlife Center in Espanola, and later at the Santa Fe Raptor Center. She put countless hours of work into her wild bird educational programs. Laura had the dedication and quiet patience required to tame a rehabilitated, non-releasable but still wild, raptor to her fist.

She was frequently seen at schools throughout Northern New Mexico and at fundraising events in museums or parks with an owl, falcon, or hawk perched on her arm. Her goal was to bring knowledge, respect, and appreciation of raptors to everyone, young and old alike.

The family would like to thank the amazing staff and caregivers from Home Instead and the Memory Care unit of Aspen Ridge. Their dedication and loving care made it possible for Laura to enjoy as much of her last few years as possible. A private memorial service will be held in the Spring.