Dad bought a dog for the family named Butch because I was afraid of dogs and he would always protect us as we played in the backyard, if he saw anyone come near the fence he would start barking and when the meterman came to read the meter he had to be put in the garage or he would bite him!
When I was ten years old, we were visiting my Grandma Swanson, Aunt Sandy, cousins Dottie, Billy, and Lisa for our annual vacation in CT and Aunt Sandy was making fried pizza and my Dad liked it so much he told me to go in the kitchen and watch her make it so that I could make it when we went back home, so I went in and watched.  As a lot of you might have heard when he coached the Great Neck Bulldogs he would have his coaches over after a game and it be Sheryl make fried pizza and that started a tradition in our family.
My Dad helped coach my softball team one year with Mrs. Zimmerly and he was always telling her to take me out to let someone else get a chance to play and she would tell him no, she stays in as she knows what she is doing and I am the head coach, he would just shake his head at her.
I remember when Betty came home from Cox High School and told Dad that she lost her report cards behind the heater by the office and he went and got a metal coat hanger out of the closet and a piece of gum and told her to get in the van and off they went back to school.  He went in undid the coat hanger, put the piece of gum on the end, put it behind the heater, and pulled up her report card and I remember that you should never try to tell Dad you could not get something because he would get it for you!
Gracelyne and I had taken my Dad to two Christmas luncheons for VA Power Retirees and she would help clean up the plates when people were finished and they would tell him that she was such a sweet and helpful girl and he would smile and say yes, he taught her well.  Last year she got to pull the tickets from the basket to give to be read aloud and the whole time that she is standing up there she is bouncing up and down and he has a smile on his face and when she picks her own number he just starts laughing at her expression!  We also went to the M. E. Cox Center for their Christmas Party and Gracelyne enjoyed sitting beside her Papa and listening to the men sing Christmas carols and hear Papa sing along with them.
Last softball game that I took him to was one of Gracelyne’s at Creeds Elementary School and it was a long, long, long walk for him as he was using a walker at that time and we had to stop and rest on the way to the field.  Once there he sat on his walker and enjoyed watching the little girls and Gracelyne play their game.  After the game was over, we started the long walk back to the car and I told him that if he needed to sit on the chair I would push him but he said no, another older lady asked him if he wanted to have a race with their walkers and he said no thank you as he would lose as his legs were tired and then he asked me to push him to the car, the whole way there he kept telling me not to run into the tree, the building, and the cars until we finally arrived to the car and get in and put on the air conditioning which he did not complain about because he was hot which he never was!
Our Dad was always about sports, playing as we were growing up (softball at church and VA Power), coaching us girls in softball, coaching boys football for Great Neck Recreation, but most of all he loved watching all of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren play any and all sports and he was proud of every single one of us and them as they carry on the family tradition of team sports and good sportsmanship (winning)!

I remember riding in the rumble seat of my brother’s rumble seat of his little coupe.  Crying at his wedding when he married Mary but I do not remember why.
When John and Mary were first married they lived upstairs in Aunt Julia’s house on William Street in Stamford, CT.  Aunt Julia would fill the bathtub in the morning and let the sun warm it up because there was no hot water up there and he just hated that.
I recall waiting for the Volkswagen bus every summer when the family all came to CT and planning meals and sleeping arrangements.  Also, every year Nanny would have her go buy Munniemaker cigars for him for Christmas.
Dottie says that her mother Sandy smiles when she remembers how Uncle John would always pinch her face and say “You’re beautiful” and once when she went to lunch with Uncle John and Aunt Mary in Virginia to Beckett’s (a place they went to all the time) Uncle John introduced her to their waitress and said “This is my sister, ain’t she pretty?”

Dad you taught me to be a fierce competitor. Practice hard because how you practice is how you play, not just in sports but school, work and life. Always shake your opponents hand win or lose, but losing, well it just sucks. You also taught me that sometimes it’s ok to tell a white lie especially if it keeps you out of trouble with Mom.
So many memories. Thanksgiving will be coming soon but you won’t be here. Every time I think about Thanksgiving I’m reminded of the pumpkin pie incident. I’m not even sure if that happened at Thanksgiving I just remember pumpkin pie. I know you remember. I start smiling every time I think about it. Dad you were sitting in your recliner and not sure if John P brought you that big piece of pumpkin pie with whip cream on the top and tripped or you had the pie and John P was horsing around near you and he hit your chair or arm but however it happened that pumpkin pie smashed all over your chest. If a look could kill John P would have been done for. John P took one look at your face and in that moment he was transformed into the “Flash”. He dashed up the stairs. That was the fastest he has ever moved. For a few moments all of us sitting in the living room were silent, but then nothing but laughter. 
Dad you taught me patience, with a sense of humor goes a long way and sometimes you don’t need to speak, silence can convey the same message.
Growing up I would see other families hug their children, wives hug their husbands, but this was not what we did in the Swanson house. I can actually only remember you hugging me once. I had just graduated from college and I was standing with some friends and you came up and gave me a hug. I looked at you and said “Dad are you sick or something?” I think I might have even hurt your feelings. You responded saying no I just wanted to let you know how proud I am of you. I said Dad I already know, I don’t need no stinking hug and then we just started laughing.
Dad you taught me, family is about participation not empty words or jesters.  I can’t remember you missing a game, a school or church program. Even as I became an adult you and Mom still came to softball games. You were there to help me when I got married and had an instant family. Coming at the crack of dawn so I could go to work and take the kids to your house to swim and play with their cousins then even bringing them home if I’d had a long day. No hug could mean that much.
I have to tell two more stories both college related. Dad remember the time you came to pick me up from college my freshman year on a Friday and drove the Honda the car me and my younger sister shared? We drove all the way home from Farmville and as we pulled up in the drive way you said, “Tell your sister when I told her to get that stuff out of the house I didn’t mean for her to put it in the glove compartment of the car?” I had no idea what that meant but my sister did. She ran outside to look in the glove compartment and yes the stuff was still there.
Dad you taught me sometimes my siblings make really bad choices.
The last story is about how my sophomore year you took me to college. I had a new roommate one who I knew but not really. She and I were supposed to room with other girls but they joined a sorority and we were left without anyone so we just said what the heck. When we got up to my dorm room my roommate and her Dad were already there. You had on your IBEW jacket. Mr. Pierson took one look and said hey I’m a member of IBEW I work for the electric company in New Jersey. Instant comradery was had. It didn’t hurt that you were holding a six pack of beer and offered Mr. Pierson one. Once the Dads left my roommate and I decided this had better workout or our Dads will be so sad. It did work out and she became like many other friends part of the Swanson clan.
Dad, we aren’t going to be able to create any more memories which makes me a little sad, but you have left me so many it fills my heart with joy.

Dear Dad,
If we’re reading this letter it means you’re no longer with us. You will be greatly missed. The last years have been very unusual. Having to take care of your parents isn’t a life lesson anyone teaches or any class you can take in school. I have mixed feelings about the past 5 or so years. People telling us how great we were for taking such good care of you and Mom, and me thinking thank goodness they only saw the good moments. Then I reflect back to you being my Dad and how much crap you had to put up with, of course not with me, but the others, you know what I’m saying. I know there was never any other choice but to put up with crazy to enjoy another side of you which none of us probably would have seen.
My first memories are of us living on Lens Avenue. How proud you were of me for learning to ride a two wheel bike without those “sissy wheels” as you called them, and without help from you. 
Dad you taught me how to be self-reliant. 
Dad you gave me my love for beer. I loved it when you asked me to get you a beer. I would always have a few sips in the kitchen (I think you knew) before bringing it out to you. I’m so glad you drank the good stuff Black Label, Red White & Blue and Shaffers, if I remember correctly. I’d say, “Dad can I have a sip?” you’d look around to see where Mom was and say “Bring me your mug.” Just to clarify for those listening my mug was one of those little glass souvenir cups. 
Dad you taught me there’s nothing like kicking back and having a cold one, especially when watching Wahoo McDaniels, roller derby or football on a Sunday afternoon.
Remember when we lived right across the street from VEPCO? Your union – IBEW, went on strike and our house was the Union Headquarters? I remember being a little scarred. I didn’t really understand what a “scab” was but kept hearing about all the “scabs” across the street and thinking I hope those “scabs” don’t infect us. You explained to me it wasn’t a disease just a name for someone who crossed your picket line. Then you told me how important it was to work for what you want and believe in. You were on ‘Strike” to get not only better pay but benefits for all the workers and their families.
Dad you taught me to work hard. To stand up for what I believe is right and fair, and to believe in myself.
I love sports thanks to you. Not sure how many times I’ve been asked in my life “Isn’t Coach Swanson your Dad?” Of course the answer was yes and I’d get to hear, your Dad would take me to practice or your Dad spit tobacco on me because I wasn’t….. and on and on. I loved the Great Neck Bulldogs. I loved football practice. I love fried pizza. I think you and Mom created the concept of parents taking turns to bring snacks after games. Mom would always cut oranges for half-time and bring soda for after the games. Then slowly other parents were offering to bring drinks or oranges. I liked how the other coaches and even players would come over to the house after the game and talk about the good and bad of the game. One game I’m pretty sure Mom wasn’t with us, didn’t go well. The Bulldogs lost maybe in the last few seconds or something. You weren’t mad often but when you were most people knew probably not a good idea to talk to you. We got in the van, of course we had players who you were giving a ride home to and one said, Mr. Swanson I think, and before he could finish his sentence you hit the windshield with your fist and there was a huge crack. The van became silent. Dad you looked around and very calmly said when we get home make sure to tell your Mom or Mrs. Swanson next time you see her how loud it was when that rock hit the windshield. Then we drove home in complete silence.

Stories about Dad

The first time I ever went to a golf course with dad was on a Sunday after church to Oceana when I was 8.  Everybody there called him “Captain” since they thought he was one and Dad just went along with it.  On the first tee as he was warming up he looked at me and said “Don’t you laugh if I hit a tree today.”  I said “OK” and was looking around taking in everything that was going on.  So when it came to dad’s turn, always first if he was throwing the tee, he teed the ball up and took a swing.  Cutting the corner of the dogleg left.  Unfortunately for dad the ball cut a little too quickly and hit the rather large tree at the corner.  I proceeded to fall down laughing and the next thing I see is his driver bouncing by my head.  He ended up with a bogey on the hole and we laughed about it at the 2nd tee.

One Sunday dad and I were walking from Sunday school to church in the A-frame and I asked him a question, not knowing that someone overheard our conversation.  During church Dr. Bob started his sermon with our conversation, he said “I overheard a conversation between a father and son this morning.  The son asked ‘Do I have to go to church today?’ the father answered ‘Yes’ and the son replied, ‘why?’  The father said ‘because I said so.’”  As Dr. Bob was finishing dad and I looked at each other with BIG smiles and starting quietly laughing.

When dad was at the top of the overtime list for VEPCO there were times he would have me answer the phone if he didn’t want to go in but the next day he would hear crap that it was really him answering the phone and he just didn’t want to come in.  I didn’t really think that we sounded that much alike until…I came home one evening and dad was on the phone, he RARELY talked on the phone.  The next day I was walking with my girlfriend at the time and she was talking about something and I asked her what she was talking about.  She looked at me and said I can’t believe that you don’t remember because we talked about it last night.  I looked at her and started laughing and told her that she had a 20 minute conversation with my dad.  When dad got home that night I was laughing and told him about it and all he said was “She asked for John, not John Jr.”

Golf stories are always fun.  From being one of 2 groups at Redwing while a hurricane was offshore and both of us shooting one of the best rounds we have EVER shot to playing on the COLDEST day in Myrtle Beach History.  Just being on the course with him was enjoyable.  I can honestly say that since he had his 1st stroke 5 years ago I have only played about twice and it just wasn’t as fun so why waste the money.  
Sports in general were always important, as most of you all know, in our family.  The only games that missed were when my grandmother died and when he was restoring power in Charlotte after Hurricane Andrew.  Dad wouldn’t even let me go to my grandmother’s funeral in Connecticut because I could not miss practice or the game.

One funny thing about our Dad is that he called us by numbers vs. our names.  He had 1, 2, 3, and 4 and then of course John P.  He said it was because he couldn’t remember our names!!  One of my early memories is of him spanking my bare butt.  I was running to get my bathing suit out of the hall closet when I stubbed my toe in the bathroom and said a cuss word.  He did not like that and gave my butt a smack.  I showed him though as I did not go out and enjoy my family with nighttime swimming but instead just went in my bedroom and cried myself to sleep.  I remember asking my father if I could be a cheerleader for his Great Neck Bulldog’s football team and his telling me no, he did not like cheerleaders and thought they were annoying.  I remember me and Trish getting woken up in what seemed like the middle of the night by Betty as she had to take us to the hospital with Mom when she was pregnant as Dad was out working for VEPCO when John P was being born.  I remember my Dad getting there right before John P was born on Mother’s Day.  I remember him teasing me when I got a black eye from getting hit with a field hockey stick by a football player in Junior High School. I remember our yearly trips to Connecticut to visit my Dad’s family.  One particular trip it was raining really hard and I think it turned into a tropical storm/hurricane force winds as we were driving over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel.  He told us all to be quiet, no talking, and his hands were white and clenched on the steering wheel of his tan VW van.  I just remember feeling scared because he looked scared and as I got older I certainly understood why at that time.  As soon as we got over the bridge, I remember the radio saying that the bridge tunnel had been closed due to high treacherous winds. I remember him getting us our first car, an orange Gremlin.  Good grief, that car was a dud!  He turned it in for a white Honda civic which was a much better mode of transportation for us.  I remember him being the first one on the field when Trisha collided with another field hockey player when she didn’t get up immediately. I remember when I first tried out a turkey tetrazzini dish and him saying it was good when in fact it was really dry but he didn’t want to hurt my feelings.  I remember having my father tell me how to drive home from my work at Thompson Royal Dodge at the start of the snow storm in 1980.  I was terrified having lived in Virginia all of my life but since he grew up in Connecticut he told me what to do for my drive home. I remember having my father asking to borrow some money from us for his new air conditioning units and telling me he would work it off by cleaning my house, boy that sure worked out well for me!! Finally, I remember my Dad asking me when we were going to Buzz’s wedding rehearsal was my son, Sean, ever quiet as you see he and my Mom rode up with us to Leesburg to attend the wedding.  We were on the way to the rehearsal at the Church and Sean and Landon were sitting in their car seats in the back of our car.  They were still talking and then, nothing but silence.  We turned around to see that they had both fallen asleep in their car seats.  I then remember saying to him that is the only time Sean is quiet, when he is sleeping!!  

Our father attended every sporting event whether it was recreation, school teams, intramurals, college teams, or spouse related events like my husband’s running races, duathlons, and triathlons and my son’s soccer and basketball games.  He enjoyed any social event or outing, his beer, and cigars and lived life to its fullest!

We were sorry to here of John's passing.  Karl ,I and our sons have great memories of the great times when we all coach Great Neck teams.   The Carr's

Our condolences to Patricia and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you! 

Sincerely,
Gus Eddins & Family

John's greetings in the church each Sunday morning and the pride he took in caring for the church grounds.  Love Ted and Betty

My sincere condolences to John's family for their loss. I enjoyed many a round of golf with John, always enjoying his  company and friendship. Rest in Peace John.
Herb Finch

John was the first Lineman I was assigned to work with when I was hired at Virginia Power more than 30 years ago. I continued working with him almost daily until he retired. He was the first person to see me in the hospital after two major surgeries and at my wedding. I'll miss him. He was great man. Thanks for everything, your old Groundman, Ray

OBITUARY

John P. Swanson,

January 7, 1931 – October 23, 2017

Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

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