Dr. Thomas Swerczek

1939 - 2022

Dr. Thomas Swerczek
May 10, 1939 - January 9, 2022
Lexington, Kentucky - Dr. Thomas Swerczek, 82, died at home surrounded by his loving family in Lexington, Kentucky on January 9, 2022. Tom was born on May 10, 1939 in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska and attended both grade school and high school there. He later completed his undergraduate and Doctor of Veterinary degrees from Kansas State University. While a student at Kansas State, he met Mary Ann and Tom then made their first home in Storrs, Connecticut where their oldest two children, Anne Marie and Michael, were born and where Tom completed his PHD in Animal Pathology at the University of Connecticut. In 1969, Tom and his family moved to Lexington, Kentucky where he accepted a research position at the University of Kentucky. Tom and Mary Ann's son, Timothy was born in Lexington and Tom continued his position at UK until he retired in 2018. Most of all of Tom's research and professional publications focused on the improvement of the health and care of horses and farm animals. Tom was known for his contributions to the horse racing industry. Most notably, performing the autopsy on the Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Tom was predeceased in death by his son, Michael T. Swerczek in 2010 and by his parents, Walter and Lucille (Homan) Swerczek. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Mary Ann Murry Swerczek; his daughter Anne Marie (Greg) Pitts and son, Tim Swerczek. Also surviving are eight grandchildren; Hope Swerczek in Redding, CA; and Thomas E. Swerczek, Michelle, Rachel, Michael, Annemarie, and Mary-Therese Pitts, all of Lexington. Plus, Amber (Caleb) Knorr in Steubenville, OH. Surviving siblings, all living in Nebraska, include: Mary Lou Podraza, in Columbus; Delores (Dick) Podraza, and Robert (Kathy) Swerczek in Omaha, and Steve (Peg) Swerczek, in Cedar Rapids. In-laws surviving are; John P. (Mary Margaret) Murry in Kansas City, Elizabeth L. Johnson, Topeka, KS; and Jean (Wagner) Murry in Overland Park, KS. In addition, Tom is survived by many nieces and nephews. A private funeral mass will be held for his immediate family at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, KY on Friday January 14th. Due to Covid, the service will be live streamed at 11 a.m. and can be found at www.cathedralctk.org/livestream. Burial will follow Mass at Calvary Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations to be made to the Catholic Action Center, Lexington, Ky; or Bluegrass Hospice Care, Lexington, KY; or the Cathedral of Christ the King, Lexington, KY.