Schwab, who has lived on Roosevelt Island since 1977, worked at The New York Times as a writer and editor from 1948 to 1961, primarily on the Sunday News of the Week in Review section.  From 1961 to 1990, he was a member of the Board of Editors of Scientific American magazine, serving as Managing Editor after 1986.  Since 1991, he has taught as Adjunct Instructor in Journalism at New York University, teaching science writing.

In announcing the appointment, WIRE Managing Editor Dick Lutz said, "Every public institution, especially a newspaper with a small staff, can benefit from having an experienced hand listening to consumer complaints, considering their merit impartially, and working to resolve them." The Encarta World English Dictionary defines ombudsman as "somebody responsible for investigating and resolving complaints from consumers or other members of the public against a company, institution, or other organization." In the context of The WIRE, Lutz said, Schwab's role will include acting as a touchpoint for readers and subjects of WIRE reports who feel their positions or activities have been reported unfairly or inaccurately.  "There's an election season upon us," Lutz said, "and it's important to do everything possible to insure fairness."

Schwab can be reached at his home phone, 838-3184.

Schwab was active in the early days of New York City's Reform Democratic movement, was elected three times to the Village Board in Mamaroneck, New York, and participated in appointment of the village's first trained, professional Village Manager.  "That's something I'd like to see happen here, too, as the first act under self-governance," he says.

On Roosevelt Island, Schwab has served on the Westview/Island House Task Force, the RIRA Common Council, and the Library Board. His late wife, Lois, served for 15 years at the Library as volunteer cataloguer and children's reference librarian.