Obituary of Thomas D. Swart

Thomas D. Swart, 59, of 4577 Melvin Lane, Gerry, NY passed away on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, in the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Tom was born August 22, 1952 in Jamestown, NY a son of the late Norman M. and Marguerite Malvaux Swart. He was a 1971 graduate of Jamestown High School and worked as a bakers apprentice at the former Cake Shop on Third St. during his high school years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving from 1971 to 1977 as an advanced electronics technician. He served almost five years aboard the USS Richmond K. Turner CG-20, a guided missile cruiser attached to the Atlantic fleet. Upon leaving the Navy he went to work for the General Electric Company in Puerto Rico as an electronics/main frame computer technician. He left the island in 1983 and transferred to General Electric Corporation in Plainville, CT where he lived for almost 14 years. Tom moved back to Jamestown in 1995 and went to work briefly at IBM for 2 years before accepting a position at Jamestown Community College where he has been an electronics and computer technician for the past 15 years. Tom always loved living in Jamestown which is why after almost 25 years he moved back to this area in 1995. He was an avid plant person growing and caring for many over the years. He had a green thumb and also a green spirit where he kept on mother nature's good side. He was also an amateur poet, never at a loss for words. As a Vietnam era veteran and cold war warrior, Tom was a founding member of the Holcomb Woods Budaj Post 199, American Legion, Plainville, CT and was a long time member of the Brock Barnes Post 33 where he had served over the years as Sr. Vice, Jr. Vice, Adjutant, finance officer, Sgt. at Arms and Post Chaplain. Surviving are his wife Cheryl A. Glair Swart whom he married December 13, 1998, together they shared a peaceful loving home in Gerry, NY along with their many pets who will miss Tom very much. He is also survived by a brother Dave Swart of Jamestown, a niece Carrie Swart, a nephew Steven Swart both of Frewsburg, two step-sons David Long of Jamestown, Jason (Eun-Hee) Long of West Chester, OH and two step grandchildren Tommy and Maya Long. He was preceded in death by his father who died April 7, 1995 and his mother who died July 15, 2010. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev. William Blair, pastor of the New Creation Assembly of God Church will officiate. Friends will be received from 4-7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. Memorials in Tom's memory may be made to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Rd. Jamestown, NY 14701.