Dr. Lynne Susan Schwab died peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 4, 2021, after living with Parkinson’s disease for 13 years. She was born Aug. 15, 1944, in Los Angeles, California to the late Harold Norman Schwab and Edith Marjorie White Schwab.
Lynne is survived by her partner of 33 1/2 years and wife, Nannette Johnson; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Anita Schwab; nephew and wire, Douglas and Lesley Schwab; niece, Amy Lynne Schwab-Jones; stepdaughters, Denise Johnson, Michelle Johnson Salmon, and Julie Johnson Crabtree; beloved cousins, Sheri Polak, Sandi and Norm Weinstock, Keith and Alaine Joseph, and Larry and Marlene Hershfield; and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
Lynne earned her BA degree from UCLA and both her MS and PhD degrees from Washington State University. When the University of North Florida in Jacksonville opened for the first time in 1972, she became the first professor to be selected for the Department of Education. She instructed teachers there until she moved to Batesville, with her partner, Nannette, in 1991. She then taught at Piedmont College in nearby Demorest until 1996. During her years as an educator of teachers, Lynne guided untold numbers of students who became competent, caring teachers; thus, her positive influence continues. She also wrote two textbooks which impacted many educators.
After 24 years of teaching, she returned to school at the University of Georgia, earned an MS degree, and became a licensed clinical social worker. She worked in this field for 20 years, including as a medical social worker at Hospice until her retirement.
A person of many interests and talents, Lynne was an award-winning photographer, painter, patron of the arts, world traveler, and a devoted lover of animals and children.
Lynne was a beloved member of the Batesville and Sautee-Nacoochee communities in Northeast Georgia and, in recent years, the Smoky Springs retirement community in Gainesville. Her many friends were captivated and inspired by her unusual combination of academic brilliance with an effervescent personality, an infectious laugh, and the kindest of hearts. One friend characterized Lynne as an exemplary human being.
After her death, one of her beloved cousins spoke for all when she said “We lost the sweetest, kindest, loveliest, most sincere, big-hearted person I know. Memories of her will be a blessing.”
Donations may be made in memory of Dr. Lynne Schwab to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation or your local animal shelter. Due to current COVID-19 conditions, the Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.