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Benjamin Swedowsky Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Benjamin Swedowsky
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Lee Swedowsky
December 26, 2024
Hi Dad,
I figured you would enjoy an update on your grandkids!
Jonah is 18 and just completed his first semester at SUNY Binghamton. He is thriving there, both socially and academically (and is playing intramural soccer too). He just got his own credit card and I told him about my first credit card from Marine Midland on which your name also appeared!
Natan aka (maybe soon to be fka) Newtsie is 15 and is a sophomore at Brooklyn Tech. His is the closest to the person I was at his age. He is very engaged with his friends, has a rakish streak, and with very little work his grades and test scores are pretty strong. And he has a serious girlfriend! Her name is Sasha and they know each other from Tech. Where Natan and I differ is that he is a sports fan - he loves the Pittsburgh Steelers, which as far as teams go is one I also liked as a kid. He is also playing various sports himself and is in the process of trying out for the Tech lacrosse team!
Last but not least is my baby Lili. And at 11, she isn´t much of a baby anymore! :( Lili is a sixth grader at a local middle school called New Voices, which specializes in arts programs for the kids. She made honor roll for the first trimester and we are super proud of her! Socially she is doing well, balancing her friend group from upstate (where she was in school the past few years, can´t recall if I told you), and her new middle school friends. She also has two pet rats, Trixie and Pixie, who are quite cute - I will attach a recent pic of Trixie.
Lili makes me understand why you had a soft spot for your daughters - she is a very loving, creative person who is easy to be around. Based on the boys being around the house less, Lili and I spend more time together and have become a lot closer, and I am very grateful for it. I know that this too will fade as she gets older, so I am trying to take advantage of it!
Ok, I think that about sums up the state of things - all three kids are doing well and would make you proud (mostly, at any rate!).
I love you and think about you often, especially when it comes to being a "provider". Thank you for everything you did for us!
LS
Kukla
February 13, 2024
Your grandson Jonah will be graduating from Brooklyn Tech and going to college next fall. He got an outrageously high score on his SATs, and is an excellent soccer player, btw. Nathan is also at Brooklyn Tech. I am going to try to attach a picture of Lili next time. She is ten and darling.
Mayo, Matt and the girls are going to Disney World Saturday. I think about our trip from time to time, and am sure they will have a wonderful time also. I miss you.
Sadly, Rachel died last August. I tell you this because I hope you can find her and send her my love. Matt and Maya spoke at her funeral, as did many others who loved her. It was really heartbreaking. I love you endlessly and so do your children.
Oh, I went to Florence and Ravenna with Gerda and Maya in September! The girls planned everything and I had a wonderful time. Mayo got the flights and the hotel (perfect) and Gerga arranged for a tour guide in Ravenna. It was outstanding, and thanks to Matt whose idea it was. Do you remember that he runs marathons?
I love you more than one more day.
Kukla
November 11, 2022
Hi Honey,
Gerontissa Aemiliane recently sent me this photo of Gerontas at “your gerontas’ grave”. Gerontas was very ill from Covid and was hospitalized for many months but was recently discharged from rehab and is as good as ever.
We are all well and miss you endlessly. Valerie sent me a text message for your birthday; Gerga and I lit candles. You are forever in our hearts and thoughts. I miss you more than one more day
Kukla
January 1, 2022
It is so hard. We all miss you more instead of less. I am not surprised because I always knew how extraordinary you are. Smartest thing I ever did, as I always said.
I love you.
Kukla
November 18, 2021
Hi Honey,
I wrote you a long and newsey note last week and apparently neglected to send it. Very annoying. Clearly I have major problems with technology so I am not going to try anything that ambitious. Just that I love you as much as ever and miss you every day. So do your children.
Allyn Henry Salomon
November 15, 2021
Is this the New York photographer Ben Swedowski?
December 26, 2020
December 26, 2020
Helene
December 26, 2020
Helene
December 26, 2020
Hi honey,
I have been trying to attach photos of Gerda and Pete's wedding, the Swedowsky fam in Austria after renewing their vows, and Audrey and Penny with stickers and capes for at least 2 hours to no avail. So I give up.
I miss you. I love you more than one more day. Kukla
Lee Swedowsky
December 24, 2020
Hi dad, I just wanted to say hi and let you know what a crazy year it has been. Many would describe it as a dumpster fire (a popular phase these days) or a lost year, but my COVID experience has had a silver lining. I have been working from home since March and have gotten to spend a lot of time with Christine and the kids (Jonah - 14, Natan aka Newtsie - 11, and Lili - 7). Believe me, it has not been easy, but there is something special about not having to trek to Manhattan on the subway in my dress clothes, and instead hanging out at home in sweat pants watching my kids grow up. And I am absolutely convinced that when life returns to normal and in-person attendance at work and school becomes mandatory again, I will undoubtedly romanticize my year spent at home with my family and it will become one of fondest memories. Weird how the mind plays tricks on us! :)
Helene
June 22, 2017
Hi honey,
I tried to attach a photo of Audrey with Matt and you in Prospect Park but I guess I failed. Remember the wood turtle we saw crossing the road in East Hampton and the wonderful sea turtle in St Maarten? Guess you haven't lost your touch.
Father's Day 2017
June 22, 2017
March 12, 2017
Honey, I wrote to you in December but apparently it got lost, although I prefer to think that you did receive it. As always, I love you more than one more day. The Kukla
Maya Swedowsky
January 12, 2017
Dear dad, I wish you could meet Audrey, the light of my, and Matt's, lives. She is brave, independent, and outgoing, and has a wonderful sense of humor. I wish you could see her magical smile - she brings joy to everyone around her. She is my little flower, just as I was yours.
Matt and I love you and miss you deeply.
Lee Swedowsky
February 8, 2016
I googled (goggled, as you would say) Lili and it led me here, so I wanted to say hi and give you a little update. At this moment, I am hanging out with Newt and Lili, now 6 and 2, while waiting until it is time to pick Jonah (now 9) up from soccer practice. He is crazy about soccer and has gotten quite good. Recently a 7th Star Wars movie was released and Newt is obsessed with Star Wars Lego - he is very creative and a talented builder. What can I say about Lili? She is smart, funny and beautiful - I'm sure she will break more than her share of hearts over the years! It is time for dinner, so I need to go. We all love you, "Opa Ben"!
Lee
Your tree. From Gerontissa Ieronmyne Oct 2013
December 29, 2013
I love you more than one more day
December 29, 2013
Lili Anna 12-11-13
December 29, 2013
Matt & Maya's Wedding 9-1-13
December 29, 2013
Your Darkroom
December 29, 2013
Gerda Swedowsky
December 27, 2013
Dear dad, not a day goes bye when I do not think about you and miss you. I can't believe it has been seven long years since you were with us! Your grandson Jonah is 7 now and a fine young man, followed by the high spirited Natan (Newtsie) and now a little girl, lili. They would love you as much as we do!
Jonah Benjamin
December 27, 2007
Dearest Opa,
I am 14 months old now. I can walk and have started to talk. My dad says I have inherited your hands and feet and inquisitive nature. He has turned out to be a wonderful dad – very affectionate and playful. You would be proud.
I wish you were here to see me grow and change.
Much love,
Your grandson Jonah Benjamin
Christine Swedowsky
December 27, 2007
Dear Ben,
I miss you. You are always on my mind and I wish I had spend more time with you when I had the chance.
Your daughter
Christine
Arno Endres
December 27, 2007
Dear Ben,
A Yahrzeit candle is burning for you in our living room right now.
We are thinking of you - today and always.
The Endres family
Lee
November 9, 2007
hey dad,
you may know this, but we had a get-together at 1075 in your honor on nov. 7th. i pointed out your picture to jonah and told him that you are my papa, just like i am his papa. i told him that while he may not remember meeting you, he did, and that you were very excited about him. when he is older, i'm sure he will ask me where you are and that's a very tough one for me to answer - at least i have some time to think about it!
we are looking forward to seeing your stones this sunday - they were designed with you in mind - we hope you like them!
love always,
lee
ps - on the 7th, i contacted jeff federman to wish him happy birthday. he said he assumed that i was thinking about you today, and that he was too.
Denny Tillman
November 9, 2007
Anniversary's are good. It's good to stop and think about a person who meant something meaningful to you in your life; to celebrate them.
Ben was one of those people who touched me, who I accepted soulfully.
A good, sweet, and loving man.
helene
November 8, 2007
Happy Birthday, honey. We love you more than one more day.
Mayo & Jonah
Mayo
May 2, 2007
Benu, I just renewed the guestbook so that it will be around for the rest of eternity (or at least as long as the NY Times is around). Here is a photo of me and your grandson, Jonah Benjamin. I love you and miss you endlessly.
Doug Mulaire
April 29, 2007
Ben and I shared an office at FIT for several years. Both of us being good raconteurs had many wonderful conversations about life , family, and work. Ben was very supportive of me in my new position at FIT for which I will be always grateful.
We all miss him.
the kukla swedowsky
March 24, 2007
darling -
i had no idea this existed, found it only by luck. i love you more than one more day, always and endlessly. i miss you beyond belief. lovealways, the kukla
Lee
January 2, 2007
Dad,
I hope you liked my eulogy - you always said you wanted to see more emotion from me, so hopefully that performance fit the bill!
We all miss you so much already - it's hard to imagine living the rest of our lives without you.
Ok, the tears are making it hard to focus... I love you forever and hope we meet again.
Your adoring son,
Mayo
December 31, 2006
We love you!!!
Denny Tillman
December 31, 2006
Before I came to the FIT faculty, I'd always known the name Benjamin Swedowsky as a wonderful, professional photographer. He was a pleasure to know as a colleague, a very sweet and likable man. I will miss him.
Deborah Klesenski
December 31, 2006
I worked with Ben for many years at FIT and I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. He touched the lives of quite a few students who enjoyed having him as their teacher. Ben and I had several conversations about his illness and in my estimation he was a very brave and strong soul. He will be missed by everyone in the Photography Dept.
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