Ernest Walter Swihart, Jr., MD

Ernest "Ernie" W. Swihart, Jr. MD Age 71 Behavioral Pediatrician In a beautiful setting, on a sunny South Dakota day, Thursday, September 18, 2014, Ernie died unexpectedly in a single motorcycle accident. On their annual camping trip, Ernie rode out from their campsite. His wife Karen waited for him to return. Ernie was a behavioral pediatrician with South Lake Pediatrics, which he helped found in 1974. On the clinical faculty of the University of Minnesota & a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Ernie contributed greatly to children's mental health care. A colleague commented that "Ernie's persistent contribution and efforts on behalf of children with ADHD truly changed the Twin Cities. I will be forever grateful personally and professionally for his knowledge and expertise ... he was usually right!" Ernie was honored with a Minnesota Book Award for his co-authorship on The Manipulative Child. In 2013, Ernie was honored for excellence in medical teaching with the U of MN's Dept. of Pediatrics Homer Venters Award. Recently, ABC's Nightline interviewed Ernie on the use of medication for children with ADHD. Notwithstanding all of the professional awards & accomplishments, Ernie's great passion was serving children & their families with mental health problems which he did in his down-to-earth style & approachable, engaging, & knowledgeable manner. Ernie served in the U.S. Public Health Service as a Lt. Commander working in the federal family planning program. Ernie was given a new lease on life with a liver transplant in the fall of 2013. With a new young liver, he told Karen he felt younger & better than he had in many years. This last year was a thrilling time, taking time to enjoy his family, his projects, & his new life. Survived by his wife Karen, their children Jason Swihart & Shana Worel of Boston, MA, Gretchen Swihart of Minnetonka, Krista & Patrick Maynard of Eden Prairie, Liz & Shay Marso of Hopkins. There are six grandchildren: Kenzie, Ashley, & Jacob Maynard; Austin & Deven Penman; Cullen Marso. Ernie also is survived by his sister Cheryl & Al Payne; a nephew Jeff & Meg Hollingsworth & a niece Heidi Hollingsworth, all of Littleton, CO. Ernie has many true friends from their many interests: dogs, sailing, BMW motorcycles, hosting tech days, the Boundary Waters, restoration of vintage Jeep vehicles, windsurfing, downhill skiing, the constant improvement projects, Scandinavian travels to visit foreign exchange students, the Porsche Club, holiday parties, and on. A Celebration of Life is being planned, as was Ernie's wish, in the near future. Visit Ernie's Caring Bridge site at www.CaringBridge.org/ernieswihart. Flowers have been planned - memorials might be made in Ernie's honor.

Tributes

Ernest Walter Swihart, Jr., MD

October 12, 1942 - September 18, 2014

Tributes

Ernest Walter Swihart, Jr., MD

October 12, 1942 - September 18, 2014

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