Lucy Cushing Swan

Lucy Swan, a retired Occupational Therapist with NIH, died of pancreatic cancer on March 16th, 2026 in Olney, MD. She was 73. Lucy was a lifelong caregiver, devoted mother of two, exceptional friend, neighbor, and colleague. Her legacy of kindness, grace, and optimism leaves all those she touched, saddened by her passing. Despite a terminal diagnosis that offered few options, Lucy rose above her circumstances to live fully for another 32 months, which she called some of her best times. Her final days were spent at home in hospice care surrounded by loving family members and her incredible group of friends, listening to them play music, having her favorite books read to her, and recalling the best "Lucy stories."

Lucy Cushing Swan was born May 2, 1952 in Washington, DC, to Ruth and Thaxter Swan. She was raised in Bethesda, MD, but spent six years of her childhood in Germany during her father's CIA tours of duty. Her passions included all things horses, riding and competing on her beloved Beany, camping in the Blue Ridge mountains with her friends and their dogs, and nourishing her lifelong love of reading—anything and everything—by her estimate, she read several thousand books during her lifetime. She attended Walt Whitman High School, then earned a Bachelor's degree at Guilford College in Greensboro,NC in 1975, before deciding to pursue an advanced degree in healthcare. Lucy completed her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Texas Women's University, Denton, TX in 1979.

Lucy married Gene Sullivan in 1982, and they settled in Tacoma Park, near to where she had started work as an OT at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in Southeast Washington. They moved to Olney in 1989 for the birth of their first child, Holly, followed rather quickly by Mark in 1990. Lucy left St. Elizabeth's to work in the rehabilitative medicine department of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda as a Senior OT, serving with dedication for 30 years, before retiring from her role as Clinical Coordinator in 2020. Although Lucy's retirement was cut short by her cancer diagnosis, she felt her life had been a rich and happy one; fulfilling her dreams of being a caregiver, and thriving in the company of all of us who are so missing her smiling presence.

Lucy is survived by her daughter Holly Sullivan Gummo and husband Joe of Lusby, her son Mark Sullivan and wife Lindsey of Glen Burnie, brothers David (Penny) of Winchester, VA, Thomas (Jackie) of Gibsonia, PA, and Robert (Ann) of Portsmouth, NH, and ex-husband Gene of Sarasota, FL, and her dog, Harry. Her parents Ruth and Thaxter Swan preceded her in death. Lucy's family wishes to express their sincere and warmest thanks to her wonderful care team at Sibley Hospital's Kimmel Cancer Center, lead by Dr. M. Pishvaian; and to her remarkable home hospice team from JSSA.

Lucy requested, although she loved getting flowers, donations instead be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org) or to the Jewish Social Service Agency (Montgomery County Hospice Program); (www.jssa.org)

A celebration of Lucy's life will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026 (her 74th birthday), at 11:00 AM in the Great Room at Silo Falls Restaurant, 19501 Georgia Avenue, Brookeville, Maryland.