IN MEMORIAM: Oneonta Native Dick Swadey, 60

ONEONTA – Richard “Dick” Swadey, 60, of Mesopotamia, Ohio, whose family lives in Oneonta, passed away Sept. 20, 2015.  He was born in Cleveland on Dec. 31, 1954.

In his boyhood, Dick took joy in neighborhood games of touch football in the street and creating activities with his sister and other children such as carnivals, day camps, libraries, plays and inventive backyard games.

As a teen he excelled at soccer, wrestling, making people laugh and exploring the southern states by hitchhiking.  His sense of humor and his open and outgoing nature and kindness enabled him to become friends with all different kinds of people wherever he went, including staff and residents at Hopewell Inn, where he had resided since 1996.