Ralph John Swanson – 50th Reunion Essay

Ralph John Swanson

1058 California Ave.

Palo Alto, CA 94306

ralph.swanson@berliner.com

408-406-8762

Spouse(s): Ann Swanson (1971)

Child(ren): Larissa Ann (Marocco) (1977); Christina Margaret Irene (Roberts) (1980)

Grandchild(ren): Andrew Marocco (2007); Luke Marocco (2007)

Education: Yale, BA 1969; Santa Clara University, JD 1975

National Service: US Navy, ’69–’72, Lt.(jg)

Career: Law Clerk, Hon. Oliver Carter (USDC, ND Cal), ’75–’76; Office of Special Counsel, US Dept. of Engergy, ’77–’80; Litigation Partner, Berliner Cohen, 1980–present

Avocations: Non-profit trustee, Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc. (President, ’96–’98); Symphony Silicon Valley Trustee (2008–present)

College: Silliman

I’ve been to a number of our reunions and have seen quite a few of my friends over the years, so I suppose I don’t need to reacquaint them with me. They know I’ve been a lawyer in San Jose, California, and have lived in Palo Alto since the 1970s. I’ve also been married to the same wife for 47 years (!) as I write this. We have two grown children, Larissa, 40, and Christina, 37. Both are married, and Larissa has two 10-year-old twin boys who are the joy of our lives. Christina teaches kindergarten in a local school. They live near us, which is great, especially as I am about to retire from my law practice.

I’ve had a modicum of success in my law career and have done a good deal of non-legal work for charities and non-profits on whose boards I have sat over the years. I’m looking forward to retirement and a good deal more travel in the near future. My wife, Ann, and I are in relatively good health, so knock on wood.

But here’s what really has me looking to the future. In 1988, when Larissa was 11 years old, she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. For those of you unfamiliar with this disease, it is a genetic, progressive affliction that gradually destroys the lungs. At the time of Larissa’s diagnosis, we were devastated. There is no cure and the disease is always fatal.

Except maybe not now. Last summer, when Larissa’s lung function had fallen to below 20 percent, she was told her one remaining hope was to have a lung transplant. She was placed on the recipient list at Stanford Medical Center and we waited. On February 11, 2018, she got the call and had her transplant early on the morning of February 12. She returned to her home in Campbell, California, after 11 days in the hospital and 10 days staying with us because of our proximity to Stanford. She is doing well, is back with her husband and boys, walking up to two miles per day and getting back to what once was a “normal” life. Most of all, she breathes freely. Of course, there are many challenges ahead. Larissa has to take a battery of immuno-suppressive drugs to prevent rejection of her new lungs and still other drugs to combat infections that result from the suppression of her immune system. But the point is, there is life and there is now hope.

Now this doesn’t have much to do with my Yale experience or how it changed my life, but it fairly well represents what we learn about perspective as we age. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I do know that life looks a lot better to me—and to my family—than it did just a few months ago. Here’s to “time and change,” and all the good that can come from it.