William W. Swenson

William W. Swenson, (Bill), age 101 and a half, died peacefully in Bloomington IN on October 9, 2023, with his family by his side. He was born in Buffalo NY on February 22, 1922, and lived most of his life in Erie County. His beloved wife, Ruth (long-time kindergarten teacher in Amherst schools) died in 2019, after 73 years of happiness together. They had two daughters: Claudia Elizabeth (deceased in 2016) and Melinda Marie, who survives in Bloomington IN. He also had one granddaughter, Pamela Becker, and one great granddaughter, Nora Ruth Becker. He was the brother of Eugene D. Swenson of Lockport NY, also deceased.

Bill graduated from Public School 67 in South Buffalo, and South Park High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan (1943) and a Master of Business Administration (1962) from the University of Buffalo. He was a Professional Engineer with Bell Aerospace Company, including work on the Bell X-1 supersonic airplane. He was the Bell Liaison to the NASA Space Center during Gemini and Apollo Projects, and engineer on the development of the Lunar Landing Training Vehicle and Apollo 11 Lunar Excursion Module (1969). He always emphasized that it was great to get men on the moon, but even more important to get them home. He was a forensic engineer for Trautman Associates and a consulting engineer with Columbus McKinnon Company. His most recent professional work was as Assistant Dean in the School of Engineering at the University at Buffalo, mentoring young engineers and international students. He retired in 2000. He was inducted into the Niagara Frontier Aviation and Space Hall of Fame in 2005.

He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Buffalo (President, 1974), the Niagara Frontier Aero Club, he was a Master Mason, a member the Ismailia Shrine, Buffalo Masonic Lodge, University of Michigan Alumni Association, UB Alumni, and he was a founding member of the Christ United Methodist Church in Amherst. He was inducted into the Niagara Frontier Aerospace Hall of Fame in 2005. He especially enjoyed connections with international students, loved golf (he played until he was 99), boating and fishing, bowling, and having long conversations with his many friends and colleagues. Bill was smart, funny, kind, a good listener, and a loyal team player. He was always alert to the needs of others. He loved his whole family "to the moon and back." Interment will be at Prospect Lawn Cemetery in Hamburg, NY.