Jacqueline Lou Swaback

“To love deeply, and to commit much, is a marvelous way to live. It gives the security and beauty of luxurious living, with the excitement of risking it all.” - Jacquie Swaback Advocate for Women’s Rights Champion for Children Lover of the Sofia, Philharmonic, and Poetry Momma Bear for her family Jacqueline spent her childhood in Greeley, Colorado with her brother, Robert (Bobby). Growing up, she developed her life-long friends, Koral Nystrom, Hedda Smithson, Pat Nichols, Marjorie Lin, and Sonja McTeague, known as the “Greeley Six.” She kept them close to her heart and for 27 years, she vacationed each year with them at Bodega Bay. In June 1963, the day after she received her BA from Trinity College, she married Dwight Swaback. For the next two years, she taught high school English while he completed medical school and an internship in the Chicago area. They then moved to Colorado (Denver and Pueblo) for four years for Dwight's residency, before moving to Japan for three years due to the military draft. In these first eight years, two daughters, Käthe and Kimberly, were born. Dwight and Jacquie stayed married until 1996 and remained friends throughout her life. In 1972, the family moved to Sacramento where Dwight was on the staff of UC Davis Medical School. Jacquie was a community volunteer with the League of Women Voters for the ERA and Title IX, while she earned a Master’s in Public Administration from CSU Sacramento. Jacquie worked in education, implementing Title IX and gender equity in education both locally and state-wide. She was also deeply dedicated to housing and urban planning (the financial model of her MPA thesis received a merit award from the California State Affordable Housing Competition). She wrote the grant to fund the building of a community center in Sacramento and helped develop a limited-equity housing cooperative in Sacramento. She founded Urban Planning for Children and Youth and directed projects for several years before becoming the City of Sacramento’s first Child Care Coordinator. It was there that she assisted office and residential developments to include child care facilities throughout Sacramento. Jacquie’s last job was as head of contracts for the Sacramento County Probation Department before retiring on October 31, 2005. She described the day as “a proper day for the old crone to take her leave.” Jacquie went on to enjoy her retirement immensely. She read, played games with friends, hosted dinner parties, avidly attended the theater and the philharmonic, enjoyed art shows, and kept herself busy quilting, writing poetry, and playing the piano again. Jacquie was preceded in death by her parents, Florence and Charlie Phillips, as well as her brother, Robert Phillips. She leaves behind her ex-husband, Dwight, her two daughters, Kim and Käthe, her daughter-in-law Christine, and her grandchildren, Hannah and Daniel. There will be no service but any photos or memories of Jacquie’s love and tenacity are very appreciated and can be posted on the Sierra View Tribute Wall associated with this obituary. Any donations in her honor can be sent to My Sister’s House, with attention addressed to the executive director and her dear friend, Nilda Valmores.3053 Freeport #120, Sac., CA 95818 orwww.my-sisters-house.org. Please watch video by going tohttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1fo1m8b84Y-z5girG5wfATAlMDF1CUHXt/view