SALEM: Richard Swenson, 66, a lifelong Salem resident, died peacefully surrounded by his family at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers on August 11, 2013 after a long illness. He was the loving husband of Carol Anne (Grondin) Swenson whom he met at Salem High School in 1963 and married in 1968. They were to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary on August 17th.
Richard was the son of the late Clyde and Emelda (Koen) Swenson. He graduated from Salem High School (1964) and Merrimack College (1968) with a degree in Civil Engineering. He began his career with the City of Salem as an Assistant City Engineer in 1968. He also served the City as Acting City Engineer and was an interim member of the Salem/Beverly Water Supply Board and the South Essex Sewerage Board. Starting in 1984, he was employed with Mass. Highway working in the Danvers District Office and later in the Boston Office as an Assistant Traffic Engineer. He retired in 2002.
In his youth, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts of America. He enjoyed photography and music, biking the roads of the North Shore, the Boston Red Sox and home improvements but, most importantly, time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
He was a loving, supportive father who supported his children in all their endeavors. He was a proud and happy “Grampy” for his eight grandchildren. Richard is survived by one son and four daughters: Carl Swenson and his fiancé Amanda Routier of Athol; Laura and her husband, Kevin Henkin of North Kingstown, RI; Karin and her husband, Fred Smith of Hamilton; Kathryn and her husband, Andrew Cheung of Malden and Jessica and her husband, Josiah Bertolino of Beverly. He also leaves eight grandchildren: Connor, Cole and Dean Henkin; Delia, Charlotte and Anders Smith; Makayla Cheung and Micah Bertolino and by his loving companion through many hard times, his dog, “Duffy”. He also leaves many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his brother, James.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 1 Margin St., Peabody at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot St., Beverly from 5 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Hospice to the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 who provided dignified care and comfort to their family.