On the very day that Taylor Swift tied the knot with Travis Kelce in New York City, news emerged of the passing of one of her former teachers.
Kirk Schwabe, who once taught Swift criminal justice at Hendersonville High School in Nashville and later took on the role of her security guard, succumbed to metastatic kidney cancer at the age of 69 last Friday, as confirmed by his family to The Telegraph.
Sarah Gordon, Schwabe’s daughter, disclosed on Thursday that her father’s condition had worsened significantly, leading to his transition to hospice care.
“In recent weeks, his health declined swiftly, prompting his move to hospice care,” Gordon shared on Facebook this past Thursday.
“Those who know my father understand that he devoted his heart to everything he did,” Sarah elaborated. “Teaching was his passion, and he cherished his students.”
Gordon posted a photo of Swift with her dad while holding a framed record plaque commemorating the release of her 2006 self-titled debut album, “Taylor Swift.”
Schwabe was a police officer in Chicago before he became a criminal justice educator and taught Swift from 2004 to 2006, while the “Opalite” singer was in her mid-teens.
Before his death, Schwabe said he believed his former student had found the right partner in Kelce.
“I do trust Taylor’s judgment. She knows what’s best,” he said in an interview with The Telegraph which was published on July 2.
Schwabe recalled telling Swift that her life was about to change as her career took off.
“I told her, you’re a superstar. This is not fun and games no more. You are it. Everything keeps going up and up and up, and the sky’s the limit for you,” he said.
While working as Swift’s security guard, Schwabe admitted he watched her rise to fame with “panic.”
“If anything happens, I’m the guy,” he said. “We got four or five hundred people in here, and I got some extra security guards, but I don’t know a lot of these guys who got hired, I don’t know what their qualifications are.”
“He treated her like he did his daughters,” his wife Jane added.
Schwabe later left his job as Swift’s security guard after becoming burned out, but remained fond of the singer.
When the pop star made a cameo in the 2010 film “Valentine’s Day,” her character’s teacher was named “Mr. Schwabe,” in reference to the beloved educator.
Swift and Kelce married in a star-studded ceremony at Madison Square Garden officiated by Adam Sandler on Friday.
Although Schwabe did not live to see the wedding, his family told the outlet he remained proud of Swift’s success and was happy for both her and Kelce ahead of the ceremony.
Swift’s aunt Robin Gentry revealed the couple “cried and they laughed and they danced and they hugged and they kissed,” adding there was “lots” of food and that guests were served cake.
Paul McCartney performed The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand” for the couple, while Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks also took the stage.
Signs outside MSG read “JUST&T MARRIED” to announce the news that the couple had made things official.