Lawrence P. Swanson

SWANSON, Lawrence P. Lawrence Peter Swanson, born January 8, 1918, of Westbrook died peacefully January 13 at Middlesex Hospital. He was married to the love of his life, Alice, for 46 years prior to her death in 1988. Raised in Brockton, Mass., Larry attended Suffolk College. During that time he had numerous poems published in the New Yorker. His professional life included working for Colt Firearms for three years and retiring from the New Haven Railroad after a 35 year career. As a young family, the Swansons lived in Unionville, CT. Larry and his family have resided in Westbrook, CT since 1957. Larry enjoyed playing folk and classical guitar, gardening, boating and fishing on Long Island Sound. He was a voracious reader, enjoyed engaging in lively discussions about books, current events, politics and philosophy. Larry lived the last 15 years of his life blind, as a result of muscular degeneration. He overcame and adjusted to this physical obstacle with incredible inner resources, perserverance, and discipline. Larry's capacity to live independently and to adapt to his health challenges with humor and tenacity was an inspiration to his family and all who knew and loved him. Larry's greatest passion was his family. A devoted father, grampa and great grampa, he left behind a lasting legacy of memories and a life well spent. Larry is survived by his daughter Karen Meyer and her husband Kenneth of Killingworth, CT, his son Fred Swanson and his wife Laurie of Key Colony Beach, FL, and his daughter Jeannie Dow of Clinton, CT. He is also survived by seven much loved grandchildren, Wade Meyer of Ohio, Elizabeth Meyer of Ipswich, Mass, Amy Meyer of Westbrook, CT, Eric Swanson and wife Tory of Weehawken, NJ, Peter Swanson and wife Melanie of South Orange, NJ, and Meredith and Olivia Dow of Clinton, CT. He is additionally survived by nine beautiful great grandchildren, Christopher and Matthew Meyer, Joseph and Nina Dakin, Monty and Ted Swanson, and Gavin, Alex, and Naomi Swanson. Funeral Services will be held on Monday January 17 at 11 a.m. at Swan Funeral Home, Old Saybrook. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Middlesex Hospital Hospice and Palliative Care, 28 Crescent Street, Middletown, CT 06457.