Robert J. Swan

Robert J. Swan, 88, of Worcester, formerly of Rockland Road in Auburn, passed away peacefully in the presence of his loving family at Notre Dame Long Term Care Center. He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Irene (Pietrusiewicz) Swan. Along with his wife, he is survived by their loving children, two sons, Robert J. Swan, Jr. and his wife Marcela of Paxton, and Paul R. Swan and his wife Debbie of Worcester; two daughters, Christine S. Hingston and husband Stephen of Winchester, and Kathleen E. Erickson and her husband Michael of Sutton; nine grandchildren, Stephen, Patrick, James, Laura, Alex, Alysha, Rachael, Andrew, and Colin; several nieces and nephews. Robert was born in Worcester, son of the late, James F. and Margaret (Fitzgerald) Swan. He was predeceased by a sister, Frances Swan and by a brother, James F. Swan, Jr. Robert graduated from Worcester Classical High School and from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. He was a member the 1944 Holy Cross Orange Bowl Football Team. He served in the Mass State Guard, until he was inducted into the United States Army/Air Corps, during World War II; he later served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, and was a 1st Lieutenant. Robert held various management positions at Westinghouse Electric, Imperial Distributors, Wright Line Incorporated, and various transportation companies. He retired from Wright Line in 1988, but continued to put his expertise and experience to good use as he worked in his retirement for the Grafton Job Corps, Excel Transportation, and the Massachusetts Society for the Protection of Children. He was a Certified Interstate Commerce Practitioner, as well as a Certified Member of American Society of Traffic and Transportation, and the American Society of Production and Inventory Control. He was awarded a National Prize from "Shipping and Handling Magazine", and had published articles for "Production and Inventory Management Quarterly". Bob was a long-time member of Saint Joseph Church in Auburn, where he taught in the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine program and served as a Eucharistic Minister. He was a life-long member of the YMCA, and a member of the Greendale Retired Men's Club. He was a former trustee at Worcester State Hospital and adjunct professor at Worcester State College. He volunteered at the Mass. Association for The Blind. Bob was an avid outdoorsman, participating in cross-country skiing, kayaking, hiking and trekking in the mountains of North Carolina. Calling Hours for Robert will be held on Sunday, August 16, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. His Funeral will be held on Monday, August 17, from the funeral home, with a procession departing at 10 a.m., travelling to Notre Dame du Lac Chapel at Notre Dame Assisted Living, 555 Plantation Street, Worcester, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Notre Dame du Lac Assisted Living, 555 Plantation Street, Worcester. 01605.