Swede is a memoir to a great father who happened to be a humble, legendary New Jersey athlete. It is also a visit back to a storied time and place, Newarks historic Weequahic section. Swede covers the life of Seymour Swede Masin: his growing up in Newark, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants; his marrying out of the faith, temporarily breaking his parents hearts; his fascinating competitors and contemporaries; numerous anecdotes that best define him; the saga of Newarks Weequahic High School, past and present; and Swedes final years battling Alzheimers Disease. Of special note is the attention he received after serving as an inspiration for Philip Roths main character, Seymour Swede Levov, in the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, American Pastoral. There was something very special about him, especially some of his fascinating contradictions: strong yet gentle; frugal yet generous; individualistic yet a great team player; a worry wart yet with a great sense of humor. For Robert Masin, this was the father he was so fortunate to have known, admired, and loved. This memoir will allow people a glimpse of the Seymour Swede Masin he idolized.
