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.

There he appreciated live local sporting events, invitations to TV gatherings for football and basketball games, music sing-a-longs, attending area festivals and most of all walking and resting on the peaceful grounds of Hopewell, located in Ohio’s Amish Country.

Dick also enjoyed much that the Oneonta area had to offer during his visits here.

Dick was a kind and loving brother, uncle, nephew and friend who will be greatly missed by many and remembered always.

He is survived by his sister, Jeannie Swadey (Greg) Langdon and niece Xandry of Oneonta as well as his Aunt Mary Ann Szadkowski, other relatives in the Cleveland area and his special family at Hopewell Inn.

He was pre-deceased by his mother, Eileen (Serschen) Swadey who died of ALS when Dick was 4 years old; by his father, Robert J. Swadey, and by Viola Hurd of St. Louis, Mo., who raised him through childhood.

A private graveside service was held on October 5, 2015 at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon, Ohio.