Eugene "Gene" K. Swain

Eugene “Gene” K. Swain, 78, of South Glastonbury passed away on Monday, September 14, 2026. He was a loving husband to Catherine Sarni for 37 years and devoted father of Ben Swain and wife Amanda and Virginia McParland and her husband Nick all of Madison. He was the proud and loving grandfather of Liam, Jameson and Camryn McParland and Jaxon Swain. He will also be forever missed by three brothers, John Swain of Groton, Steven Swain of Niantic and Danny Joe Swain of Beaufort, SC and his sister, Rebecca Pellerin and husband David of East Lyme, as well as extended family members and friends. He was predeceased by his infant granddaughter, Emily McParland.

Born in Philadelphia, PA on December 4, 1947, he was the son of the late Lewis and Josephine (Bagdonas) Swain. As a member of a military family, he spent his early childhood in Key West Florida and moved to Waterford, CT graduating from Waterford High School in 1965.

In 1968, Gene entered the U. S. Army and attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California studying the Thai language for a year. He was then stationed in Kanchanaburi, Thailand as a linguist for Thai troops training to serve in Vietnam. He returned to the Language Institute to study Russian and was assigned to Berlin, Germany as a linguist for the army duty train which traveled from Berlin to East Germany translating travel documents at the Soviet check point in Magdeburg. While in Berlin, he received his undergraduate degree from University of Maryland. After leaving the army he received his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1977.

Gene's passion in the law was to help people injured by others. He began practicing in Columbus, GA returning to Connecticut in 1982. For 12 years he practiced in New London County later joining RisCassi & Davis in Hartford in 1994. Gene's trial skills, understanding of his client's needs and his ability to grasp the big picture have underscored his legal career. His genuine southern charm endeared him to his clients. Among Gene's trial accomplishments was a $10 million medical malpractice verdict rendered in 1991 in New London. At the time, this was the largest medical malpractice verdict in the state. He was actively involved in numerous professional organizations serving as President of the New London County Bar Association in 1995 and later as President of the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association. He was a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and lectured extensively for national and statewide trial lawyers associations.

Gene was a voracious reader and historian, an avid fan of Georgia Bulldogs football and UConn women’s basketball, a lover of all good food (having personally mastered Paul Prudhomme’s Turducken), a self-proclaimed duffer on the golf course, a lover of live theatre, and a devoted follower of thoroughbred racing.

A Tribute honoring Gene will be held on Sunday, September 27 at 11 a.m. at the D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford. The family will receive relatives and friends prior to the tribute from 10:30-11 a.m. The family requests that guests avoid black attire. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to support lung cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Eugene Swain online at http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/goto/EugeneSwain Alternatively, donations may be sent to: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.