Friday, February 25, 2011
Page 3
Services Set for Retired Los Angeles Attorney Howard Swainston
By a MetNews Staff Writer
A funeral service for retired attorney Howard D. Swainston, a former name partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Breidenbach, Swainston, Crispo & Way, is scheduled for Monday in Idaho.
Swainston died Tuesday at the age of 84.
His former law partner, retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lawrence W. Crispo, yesterday commented that he “knew and loved Howard as a colleague, mentor, confidante and friend” and said his “influence for good will continue to remain with us.”
Another former colleague, Court of Appeal Justice William F. Rylaarsdam of the Fourth District, Div. Three, described Swainston as a “pretty exceptional fellow” who was “someone you could always trust” and “the straightest shooter I’ve ever known.”
Swainston was “just a great guy” with a “great sense of humor,” the justice said. He recalled one instance where Swainston, a devout Mormon, amused his colleagues with the “great deal of difficulty” he experienced in trying to figure out how to prepare a cup of tea to help alleviate a cold, although “he was probably pretending for our benefit.”
Attorney Stephen Huchting, now a partner in Morris Polich & Purdy LLP, said Swainston, who hired him as an associate out of law school in 1973, was “a mentor and a friend,” as well as “an incredible human being,” and “one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”
Swainston attended the University of Utah College of Law before joining the State Bar in 1965. He registered as inactive in 1995 and relocated to Eagle, Idaho.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Swainston, and their children, two of whom—Colin Swainston and Kurt Swainston—are attorneys in California
A viewing is scheduled for Sunday at 9 a.m., with the funeral the next day at noon at 2090 North Eagle Road in Eagle.
Copyright 2011, Metropolitan News Company