Dave and Becky Swartz
West Virginia University empowered Dr. Dave and Becky Swartz to succeed in life via education, scholarship and work experience. More than 40 years later, the Clarksburg natives are showing their gratitude by pledging their entire estate to support scholarships for future students.
The couple’s estate gifts will establish two namesake scholarship funds upon their passing. One scholarship will aid first-generation college students from West Virginia with demonstrated financial need, giving preference to students from central West Virginia. The other will benefit graduate students specializing in endodontics at the School of Dentistry.
“I want other kids who are bright students like I was to have the same chance to go to school and have their education paid for, or at least help significantly, so they’re not saddled with this huge debt,” Dave said. “I want them to set their sights as high as they can and go to the top of their chosen profession.”
Dave initially came to WVU in the early 1970s as an accounting major, with plans to get a law degree until the Watergate scandal changed his mind. By then married to Becky, he opted to follow in her father’s footsteps as a dentist instead.
Dental school was challenging, but Dave excelled thanks to hard work and strong faculty mentors at the School of Dentistry. His mentors in the Doctor of Dental Surgery program spurred his interest in endodontics, giving him opportunities to practice graduate-level procedures while he was still in dental school.
Meanwhile, Becky attended the University for one semester and then went to business school, which helped her secure a staff position at WVU. Her income helped cover living costs while Dave was in school and gave her “a hand up” that led to a career in marketing.
“We were both very driven to succeed in our chosen fields, and we both did that,” Becky said.
Dave practiced with Becky’s dad in Clarksburg for two years post-graduation to gain the experience required for an endodontics residency. When WVU launched its own endodontics graduate program, the University enticed Dave to stay by allowing him to practice on a part-time basis to earn income.
Current School of Dentistry Dean Dr. Stephen Pachuta was among the dental students Swartz taught during his residency.
“Our alumni are vital to the success of our students and our School,” Pachuta said. “Very early in my dental school journey, Dr. Swartz served as one of my instructors. Through Dave and Becky’s generosity, their commitment to excellence in education and patient care will make a significant positive impact at our WVU School of Dentistry. Their support helps make it possible for our students to pursue advance training in a specialty where patients face numerous access to care challenges.”
Between scholarships, the money the couple earned and support from the U.S. Air Force, Dave said he “basically went to school for free.”
Dave entered the Air Force after earning his master’s degree in 1982 and became a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontists in 1986, at age 33, a rare accomplishment at the time. He noted that graduates of the WVU School of Dentistry were highly valued in the military for their knowledge and clinical skills.
As the only dental school in a rural state, he said graduates had to be prepared to meet the needs of their patients.
“The general dentists had to know how to do all these specialty procedures because there were no pediatric dentists, periodontists or prosthodontists back then,” Dave said. “All these are programs at WVU now, but when I was in school the only graduate programs were in orthodontics and oral surgery. The School has grown significantly.”
Swartz served for six years on active duty and remained in the reserves when he joined Central Ohio Endodontics. He was the only board-certified endodontist in Columbus for many years, during which patients were often referred to him by The Ohio State University.
As the clinic grew, Dave’s role as a managing partner offered him the flexibility to indulge his interest in racing. He spent seven years as an official for Indy car races, which involved traveling extensively.
Dave also raced go-karts, suffering a serious accident at one point that has led to seven surgeries on his leg. The risk associated with racing prompted the couple’s initial planned gifts to WVU nearly 20 years ago.
“If something happened, we wanted to leave some kind of a legacy behind,” Dave said.
The Swartzes were reminded how quickly circumstances can change when Dave suffered a stroke at 52. He retired from practice shortly thereafter, as he dealt with serious cognitive and physical challenges that have improved over the past 16 years.
Becky continued to work for several years after Dave retired. Her marketing work was largely rooted in healthcare software and technology, spanning international markets and a variety of roles. Dave credits her support for their ability to give back to WVU.
“I’m very blessed that she understands that all our wealth came from the skills that we both acquired while she was working at WVU and while I was going to school at WVU,” he said. “We could spend the money, but we both have agreed to grow the money. We’re leaving some to our church and to our family, but in the end, WVU will get everything for scholarships. All we want is for kids to have the same chance that I’ve had.”
Becky added: “We’re a team.”
The Swartz gifts were made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.