Beverly Mathis-Swanson

1950 - 2022

Beverly Mathis-Swanson passed away on Wednesday, December 14, after living a long and joyful life. She was beloved by her family, many life-long friends, and the hundreds of students with whom she shared her passion for theater arts and storytelling. Beverly was born in San Jose on August 16, 1950, to parents Joe Prentice and Peggy Mathis, who predeceased her. She grew up on Alum Rock Avenue in San Jose, and participated in junior rodeos during her youth. Beverly attended Overfelt and Piedmont High Schools, graduating from Piedmont High School in 1968. It was in high school that she developed her lifelong passion for theater and performance.After high school, she briefly attended San Jose State University before moving to New York to pursue acting. She lived in a boarding house for young actresses, worked as an actress and model, and was a disco DJ at the New York Hilton. She moved to Los Angeles in the late 1970s where she performed in various theater productions. In 1980, she returned to San Jose to complete a Theater Arts degree at San Jose State University. As a student, she won the Kaucher Contest for Excellence in Oral Interpretation, and was a two-time recipient of the Kaucher Fellowship. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1983 and a Masters in Theater Arts and Drama in 1986. In 1983, she married Mark Swanson. In September, they celebrated 39 years of marriage by renewing their vows. They have co-owned the 100h7 Club on Soquel Avenue in Santa Cruz since 1989. They have three daughters.Beverly began teaching at San Jose State University in 1989, a position she held for 33 years. During her tenure at San Jose State, she taught beginning acting, storytelling, and oral interpretation, among other classes. She also took over the Kaucher Competition, renaming it the Kaucher-Mitchell Event to honor her mentor, Noreen Mitchell. In 2014, her colleagues re-named the event the "Kaucher Mitchell Mathis-Swanson Event for Excellence in Oral Interpretation & Storytelling" in honor of Beverly's commitment to producing the event for more than 30 years. Beverly was beloved and admired by her students, many of whom continue to attend and participate in her bi-annual events long after graduation.Throughout her life, Beverly had various interests and accomplishments. She wrote two plays, numerous poems, and songs. She hosted a weekly talk show on KSCO in the mid-1990s. She was an advocate for small business owners, lobbying at the state and federal level for fellow bar owners. She served as the President of the California Licensed Beverage Association for more than 20 years. Beverly coordinated two annual fundraisers at the 100h7 Club, raising money for muscular dystrophy and veteran's charities. Through these events, she raised more than $100,000 for disabled veterans. She was also a long-time San Francisco Giants baseball fan. Beverly was well known to her friends and students for her legendary sense of style. Her flamboyant but tasteful fur coats, colorful coordinated outfits, sophisticated tailored suits, a signature hat, and her always-matching purse and shoes, earned her the nickname "The Bev."Beverly is survived by her spouse, Mark Swanson, her daughters, Camille Mora, Kathryn Swanson, and Lauren Swanson, her grandchildren, Dmitry, Dominic, Olivia, and Loretta, and her sister, Gail Mathis, and nephew, Rickey Mathis.A private celebration of life will be held at a later time. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Beverly's honor can be made to Fischer House Palo Alto, or to the Kaucher Mitchell Mathis-Swanson fund at the San Jose State University TRFT department.