Carl Swendsen

Carl Oluf Patrick Swendsen A Gentleman and a Scholar On June 30, 1924, Carl was the first baby born in the new Providence Hospital in Everett , Washington. He was from a family of six, and is survived by two sisters, Ellen Johnson and Joanne Swendsen, and his sister-in-law, Joan Swendsen. Their Dad, Alf Swendsen, was a Naval Lieutenant and ship's captain. Carl attended Star of the Sea Elementary School, and St. Ignatius High School. He joined the Navy in 1942, was a signalman, and on one occasion saved his ship from friendly fire when he was able to convince a challenging US destroyer that they were on the same side, but that his ship had not received the daily identifying code. Two of his first grade friends, Ken Ross and Normand Black, got together decades later and wrote their memoirs of the war in a book entitled, We Didn't Know We Were Heroes. After the war, Carl attended the University of San Francisco. When he first saw his beloved Patricia at a USF/ Lone Mountain dance, he announced to a friend, "I am going to marry that girl." Over sixty one years later, they have raised eight children and shown them the meaning of love and faithfulness. Their children and their wonderful spouses are Mark (Marlene), Hillary (Ron Kane), Paul (Joelle), Neil (Takako), Monica (Larry McCabe), Jennifer (Ken Abbey), John (Carol), and Joel (Pascale). Carl and Pat have 18 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Carl received his teaching credential and taught for 33 years. After retiring, Carl volunteered as a docent at the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, read the news on the Radio for the Blind, and even had some small parts in television commercials and a movie. He also served on the San Francisco Grand Jury. For almost 20 years he and Pat enjoyed Fromm Institute for Life Long Learning at USF. During much of this time, Carl served early morning Mass at St. Ignatius for his friend and classmate, Rev. John LoSchiavo, SJ, now Chancellor. Riding on the MUNI bus to USF every morning, he never failed to doff his cap as he passed 9th Avenue, where he last was with his beloved mother who died when he was 11 years old. Carl loved the ocean and ships, and traveled extensively. He was never without a book, and would tell his children that his mind was full of all kinds of information that would never get him out of college, but was quite entertaining at a dinner party. He also loved doing cross word puzzles, in ink, but was not above looking up the answers in the paper. While teaching at Luther Burbank School, he had a favorite chair in the teacher's lounge which was known as "Carl's Chair." When a young substitute teacher unknowingly occupied the chair at a break, Carl solved the dilemma by whispering in her ear that this particular chair was reserved for faculty with hemorrhoids. His children will remember him reading aloud to them in his wonderful voice, boasting of his children to strangers, and never needing a map to get lost on family trips. He always told them that when he died he wanted to be buried in the backyard in a potato sack, and that the kids should spend the rest on ice cream. For years, he kept only a dollar in his wallet, in case he needed to make a phone call. All Carl's life he was a faithful, moral, gentle man, exhibiting humor, patience and love. He was never driven by ambition or material gain. Carl, dear, you are missed already. Just remember him in your prayers as he would you. Thank you to Kaiser and Kaiser Hospice for a safe journey home. Please join the Swendsen family for a vigil at the Evergreen Mortuary of McAvoy and O'Hara, 10th and Geary, on Tuesday October 5th, 4:00-6:00pm, and for the Mass of Resurrection at 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 6th, St. Monica's Church, 23rd and Geary, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. McAvoy-O'Hara Co. (415) 668-0077