Taylor Swift’s wedding day came with sad news connected to someone from her early life and career.
Kirk Schwabe, Swift’s former teacher and one-time security guard, died of cancer on Friday, July 3, the same day Swift married Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The Independent reported that Schwabe was 69 and that his family confirmed his death to The Telegraph.
Schwabe’s connection to Swift, however, went back long before stadium tours, public romances and global fame.
Schwabe Taught Swift in High School
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Before working in Swift’s orbit, Schwabe served as a Chicago police officer. He later became a criminal justice teacher at Hendersonville High School in Tennessee, where Swift was a student from 2004 to 2006.
The Independent reported that Swift once called Schwabe’s criminal justice class the most exciting class she had taken. She also later gave him a nod in the 2010 movie Valentine’s Day by naming her character’s teacher Mr. Schwabe.
As her career began moving quickly, Schwabe became one of the people her family trusted during a more demanding stage of her public life.
He Later Worked as Her Security Guard
Schwabe left teaching in 2009 to work as Swift’s personal security guard, according to TMZ, which cited The Telegraph. The outlet reported that Swift’s father, Scott Swift, helped bring him into the role as her career became more intense.
The job placed Schwabe close to Swift during a period when she was moving from country breakthrough to mainstream pop force. He later stepped away from security work after the schedule became too demanding.
His Family Remembered His Protective Nature
Schwabe’s family remembered him as someone who made people feel protected and valued. His wife, Jane, told The Telegraph that he treated Swift the way he treated his own daughters.
He was first a teacher, then a trusted security presence at a time when her public profile was growing fast.
The Independent reported that Schwabe had cancer. Page Six reported that he had been battling metastatic kidney cancer and that his daughter had shared days earlier that he had been moved to hospice care.
He Had Spoken About Swift Before Her Wedding
In an interview before the wedding, Schwabe spoke warmly about Swift and her future with Kelce. TMZ reported that he said Swift had good judgment and believed she had made the right choice.
Swift and Kelce married on July 3 at Madison Square Garden, with Adam Sandler officiating and Austin Swift and Jason Kelce serving as the couple’s main wedding-party members.
There is no public indication that Swift has commented on Schwabe’s death, and it is not known when she learned the news.