Neil Francis Swann died in his 92nd year, at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in Orillia on September 29, in Jan’s arms . Dearly Beloved husband of Janet( nee Toppin ), loving Father of Hal, David ( Claudia), Peter (Deborah) and Jean ( Guy) . Dear Grandfather of Levi, Liam, Nigel and Nelson. Brother of the late Ian and Barbara. Survived by his sister Carol, of Phoenix, Arizona.
Harold-O, David-O, Pierre and Miss pink, know that your Dad loved you all deeply, each of you in his own private and special way.
Neil was born in Trinidad B.W.I., the youngest child of missionary parents, the Reverend and Mrs. Harold Swann. He lived in Trinidad until the age of 15 when he came to live at Llewellyn Hall in Oshawa, a home for missionaries’ children. There he attended Oshawa Collegiate Vocational Institute, graduating from Vaughan Road Collegiate.
Upom graduation, he took a job with Canada Oil and then with Imperial Oil Shipping Company for which he plied the Great Lakes on oil tankers for three years working as deckhand, night watchman and galley cook . Feeling the need for his life to take a different direction, he decided to further his education by applying to several universities. McMaster University accepted him as a mature student and where he then went on to spend five wonderful years, graduating with a 4 year Honours Degree in Geography. While there, he enrolled in the University Naval Training Division, a move on his part which brought him great satisfaction, joy and a means by which he could put himself through Mac. He left the Naval Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant. His participation in many campus organizations and clubs are too numerous to list. I’m not quite sure what he wasn’t involved in!
Neil waited on tables in the Mac refectory for a few years before becoming “Head Waiter’, a promotion he was extremely proud of. When Neil joined Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, a member there by the name of Doug Johnson, told me how Neil had given him meal tickets on a regular basis. Doug was in need of this support and was so grateful for all that Neil had provided him.
After graduation from McMaster, Neil attended the Ontario Insitute for Studies in Education where he received his Ontario Secondary Teacher’s Cerificate. He was hired by the Ottawa Board of Education and taught at Lisgar Collegiate and Nepean Collegiate before moving to Scarborough where he became head of Geography at David and Mary Thompson, then on to conclude his 35 year teaching career at Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate. ‘Swanny’ was a highly respected teacher by both students and fellow colleagues and was a beloved football and soccer coach. He played a mean hand of bridge in the staff room too!
Retirement years were spent playing golf with Jan at Cedarhurst G.C., his cottage course, and at his cherished Whitevale G.C. He was a true blue Blue Jays fan attending games down at the Sky Dome for many years and watching televised games with Jan always at his side. Neil was also an avid curler, superior bridge palyer, golfer and avid reader of fiction, Discover Magazine and the daily newspaper.
He joined Yorkminster Park Baptist Church upon his marriage to Jan. He served a term on the Board of Finance and volunteered for many years shopping with Jan for the Out of the Cold Program. His faith was a private one but one from which he always drew strength. One afternoon this past winter he broke out into song, out of the blue, trying to sing and remember the words to SOFTLY AND TENDERLY JESUS IS CALLING.
One of Neil’s beloved happy places was at the cottage with Jan. He loved watching the waves breaking on the lake, the changing wind directions and most of all, Lake Simcoe’s glorious sunsets over Thorah and Georgina Islands. He was a weatherman extraordinaire.
He always referred to himself as a loner however his effervescent personality belied this self-regard. Neil’s positive attitude toward life brought him contentment, peace and tremendous enjoyment. He was slow to anger and had the patience of Job. His gentle and sweet personality never changed, even during the years of his dementia. Neil always looked at life from the sunny side up, never judging or criticizing anyone. He has been a role model for me, my best buddy and his ‘sweetie’ for 41 years. Farewell ‘my handsome husband’. We have loved one another dearly. Rest in peace in heaven, a place you so richly deserve to dwell in forever. You were a good man. Online condolences are welcomed at www.manganfuneralhome.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Neil Francis Swann Tuesday September 29th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: BEAVERTON, Province: Ontario