Michael I. Swygert

       Michael I. Swygert, age 84, of Chesterton, IN and St. Petersburg, FL, passed away peacefully in Chesterton on July 26, 2024 with his loving wife of 62 years, Dianne (Jeffrey) Swygert, and his eldest son, Jeffrey Swygert, by his side.  

       Michael was born on November 20, 1939 in Hammond, Indiana to the Honorable Luther M. Swygert and Mildred (Kercher) Swygert. Michael grew up in Hammond with his parents and older brother Robert "Bobby" Swygert. After Bobby died prematurely, Michael and his parents moved to a log cabin home in Dune Acres, Indiana, along the shores of Lake Michigan, a residence that Michael considered home and a personal oasis for the rest of his life. 

       After graduating from Wayland Academy Preparatory High School in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Michael matriculated at Carleton College in Minnesota. He left Carleton to become a reporter and a member of the editorial staff for the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, where he met the love of his life, Dianne, through his lifelong friend and Dianne's older brother William Jeffrey. On September 2, 1961, they wed before family and friends at the Presbyterian Church of the Dunes. Their loving marriage lasted nearly 63 years until Michael’s death. 

       After graduating summa cum laude from Valparaiso University, Michael followed in his father’s footsteps to pursue the law. With the help of friends and colleagues, Michael founded the Valparaiso Law Review and served as its first Editor-In-Chief. After graduating first in his class from Valparaiso University Law School in 1967, he and Dianne moved to New Haven Connecticut with their newborn son Jeffrey, where he received his Master’s of Law (LLM) from Yale Law School. 

       After graduation, Michael became an associate at the Hopkins Sutter Law Firm in Chicago, focusing on anti-trust law. One of his proudest professional achievements was a case that eventually ended up in front of the United States Supreme Court against a power company attempting to build a nuclear power plant in the Indiana Dunes. As a result, the nuclear power plant was never built and its proposed site would eventually become the Indiana Dunes National Park. Later, he successfully settled a heated teachers' strike in Indianapolis that led to a series of effective arbitration and mediation cases.

       After practicing law for several years, Michael ultimately turned his attention to his true calling, teaching and mentoring young people, beginning as a tenured faculty member of his alma mater, Valparaiso University Law School. He later joined DePaul's University College of Law, and finally landed at Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida where he moved with Dianne, Jeffrey, and Gregory in 1979. Michael taught countless students until his retirement decades later. He was beloved by his students who praised his intelligence, humor and intensity. Throughout his time teaching, he won teaching awards and authored numerous academic journal articles. Michael did not just mentor students, he took it upon himself to help numerous family members and others who were in need of guidance and advice. 

       Michael’s academic career allowed him and Dianne to travel extensively. Every summer, Michael and family would return to Northwest Indiana to enjoy the Dunes and extended family. He was a guest lecturer at numerous university law schools throughout the United States, including Indiana University, Emory University, Wake Forest, and Notre Dame. He, Dianne, and Gregory lived in Cambridge, England in 1986 for a year while Michael was a visiting scholar.  After retirement, Michael and Dianne traveled the world visiting Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, China, Europe, Russia, among many other countries. 

       He followed his father's footsteps into law, and he followed his mother's path as a published book author. As a law professor, Michael co-authored a textbook entitled "The Legal Handbook of Business Transactions." After retiring, Michael wrote histories of both Valparaiso University Law School "An We Must Make Them Noble" and Stetson University College of Law "Florida's First Law School: A History of Stetson University College of Law." He ended his writing career with the biography of a legendary Florida lawyer, Reece Smith, "A Consummate Lawyer: William Reece Smith Jr." 

       Michael had many skills but he did not have an aptitude for new languages. Michael spent years trying to learn French, including while living in the south of France and attending an immersive French language school. While he was unable to master the language, it never stopped him from speaking to every waiter in a French accent. His family and the waiters indulged him. 

       Michael dearly loved Dianne, his sons Jeffrey and Gregory, their wives Amy and Susan, and his grandchildren Megan, Paige, Alyza, and Jessica. He loved his extended family that included Dianne’s siblings and their children and his stepmother, Gertrude, who preceded him in death.. He loved his pets and grandpets, wine, scotch, art, music, photography, hummingbirds, sunsets, and Dianne's gardens. He will be missed and never forgotten. 

       A celebration of Michael's life will be held on August 10 at the Dune Acres Clubhouse from 1 to 4 pm. Those who wish to attend can RSVP at http://evite.me/swygert. Another celebration will be held in St. Petersburg, Florida over the 2024 holidays. Details to follow. 

Professional arrangements are entrusted to White-Love Funeral Home, Chesterton, IN.  Please share your wonderful memories with the family at: www.whitelovefuneralhome.com.

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