Coach Rich Swift Memorial Set for Sunday

All those who want to honor longtime Newark Memorial High School educator and coach Rich Swift are invited to attend a memorial service this weekend.

The Rich Swift Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 10 at Newark Memorial High School’s Event Center. Newark Memorial is located at 39375 Cedar Blvd. in Newark.

Swift died Feb. 13 of an inoperable brain tumor. He was 60 years old.

Since his death, loved ones, colleagues and former and current students of Swift’s have expressed countless words of love, respect and condolences for the man who was known to shape Newark Memorial sports.

“Plain and simple, he has been the single greatest influence on my life both as a student, player and eventually as a man. I love Coach Swift like a father and it saddens me that he has to fight this battle,” wrote Robert Gonzalez on Patch.

Swift was born May 9, 1952 and is an alumnus of Mission San Jose High School in Fremont. He graduated from California State University, Hayward in 1977. 

In his younger years, Swift was an MVAL and NCS Wrestling champion.

He served as an assistant football coach at John F. Kennedy High School in Fremont from 1974 to 1977. In 1977, he took on the head football coach and wrestling coach position at Newark High School and then moved onto Newark Memorial High School in 1981.

For information about how to donate to the memorial service, call Stacy Kelly at 510-719-0333.

Biographical information provided by Drew Stevens.