He worked at Emerson electric a year after high school and that made him decide to become a Dr. He was an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor). He treated people the old fashioned way with needles to drain sinuses instead of antibiotics. He had the same office on North Grand Avenue in St. Louis from 1928 to 1980. He rarely had any help, like a receptionist or nurse. He was a workaholic, and often only slept 4 or 5 hours nightly. When Medicare started in 1965, it greatly added to his paperwork.
He liked to hang out at the Cadillac dealership and have his car worked on, too much so in the opinion of a few mechanics. Monday was his day off as he had Saturday office hours. He was a student of golf and Steve remembers him hitting some nice shots at the Tower Tee driving range when he was about 72 years old. He had golf instruction from Tommy Armour, who won the US Open and British Open.
He built a mansion at 25 Picardy Lane in Ladue in 1935.
He and Rosemary lost an infant girl, born and died Apr. 18, 1931.
He would take summer trips in the 1940’s to California to visit Claude Jr and Bob. He had to take special care in driving westward into the sun. There was no air conditioning or tinted glass in those days. His ride was a 1939 Cadillac, which he had until he bought a 1950 Cadillac.
In 1956 he made a circle of US road trip that started in Washington state, went South to California, and went across the South to Florida. Several others were with him. When they got to Miami they took a plane flight to Havana, Cuba. Then they continued North along the east coast to New York City.
When he ordered a martini he’d tell the bartender to “make it so dry it will stand on its hind legs and walk.”
After Claude Jr and Marni got married, they always got together for dinner on the weekends in St. Louis.
From 1973 until 1978 he came to Claude Jr and Marni’s in Crestwood for Sunday dinner (lunch). Marni always put on a nice spread of food with help from the kids, and would usually have a rump roast with potatoes and green beans. He would down 4 or 5 warm beers before dinner and take a nap afterwards. He and Claude Jr would watch sports on TV in the afternoon.
Steve would sit on the armrest in the back seat of his 1956 black Cadillac which gave him a commanding view when riding with Grandpa.
His last car was a 1969 gold Cadillac Sedan DeVille with New York bumper guards and 472 cubic inch V8. It was hard to park in the cramped basement garage of his apartment in Clayton.
He insisted that Steve and Scott had Stride-Right shoes when they were babies and took Marni to the shoe store.
Marni said nobody gave a better shot than Dr. Zwart, and she had nurse experience.
A classmate of Steve’s at Lutheran South, Kim Carlson, went with her Mom on the St. Louis city bus to see Dr. Zwart. She said he’d often give her mom a vitamin B12 shot, and on every visit, Dr. Zwart gave Kim a coin for her piggy bank. Sadly, a burglar broke into their apartment and stole the piggy bank.
He passed away in 1983. Steve regrets he didn’t attend the funeral. He was new at T.G. & Y. in Oklahoma City and had already taken all of his vacation days.