Mayor Kathy Sheehan on Monday unveiled a revitalized statue memorializing an Albany-area philanthropist and builder.
Lewis A. Swyer built a lot over the course of his storied career. Establishing his construction firm in 1947, Swyer built many local landmarks, including a portion of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Schaffer Law Library at Albany Law School, Stuyvesant Plaza and Temple Beth Emeth in Albany.
So it was only fitting that in October 1992, Albany erected a statue of the famous builder, who also served on the boards of various nonprofits, including SPAC, where he was chairman from 1974 until his death at age 70 in 1988. Designed and built by Michigan sculptor Dr. Richard Kislov, the bronze Swyer Statue in Academy Park near the State Capitol featured Swyer seated on a park bench, hat in hand, with birds twittering about under the bench…