Classmate Van Swearingen has passed away

   
SHERRILL, NY - Classmate Van Swearingen died Sunday, it was reported in the Jamestown Post-Journal.
   The obituary with full details about his life is at the bottom of this posting.
   I don't remember too much about Van, except that some of us would talk about what it was probably like to have your father as principal of the high school.
   We were sympathetic. At least I hope so.
   Until I looked in the SWCS yearbook today and saw his picture, I didn't remember that his first name was the same as his dad's: Cloise. 
   To most of us, he was always just Van. And he did smile a lot, just like in the photo.

   He was also one busy guy during high school, evidenced by the yearbook entry of his activities. The cropped photo that is tucked under his yearbook list I believe has images of classmates Marianne Jim and Diane Delancy.
   Classmate Jim Nelson had this to say about Van:
"He was a really good guy who I knew quite well during our SWCS days, but, sadly, he really disappeared after high school.  Every now and then, I would try to locate him, but was unsuccessful.  He never came to any of our reunions, so maybe he just didn't want to re-engage with his old classmates.  Being the son of Mr. "Cheese" Swearingen was probably a heavy cross to bear, but he was always cheerful and, as you pointed out, was involved in many activities.  The two things I will alway remember about Van:  We were managers of the varsity b-ball team and spent a lot of hours shooting hoops together during practices.  Secondly, we spent a lot of time playing silly games while swimming at Lakewood Beach.  Van could hold his breath longer than anyone I knew.  The funny things you remember about people..."
   Rest in Peace, Cloise Van Swearingen.

OBITUARY FROM THE POST-JOURNAL