Scott W. Swanson
...champion of disabilities compliance; 44
TEWKSBURY - Scott W. Swanson, 44, a well known figure in the fight for handicappedaccessability in Eastern Massachusetts, died Thursday morning, Dec. 20, at his Tewksbury home.
He was most recently spotlighted in a Lowell Sun series on handicapped accessability at theLeLacheur Park, home of the Lowell Spinners baseball team.
He was born in Malden, June 18, 1957, the son of Charles W. Swanson II of Casco, Maine, andthe late Phyllis M. (Parsons) Swanson. He was a lifelong resident of Tewksbury, and graduatedShawsheen Technical High School in 1977.
He was a heavy equipment operator until an automobile accident 14 years ago, when a spinalchord injury left him as a quadriplegic. His spirt, determination, and stubbornness, along with theassistance of a loving family and personal care attendants, has allowed him to maintain hisindependence. Since his accident, he has reapplied himself, and received three Associates Degreediplomas at Middlesex Community College. First in Liberal Arts, second as a Paralegal, and thethird in Computer Aided Drafting. He graduated as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa HonorsSociety, and consistently achieved recognition on the Dean’s List, despite his confinement to awheelchair and other severe physical disabilities.
He was a member of the Northeast Independent Living Council, and served on the Patient’s RightCommittee at Tewksbury Hospital. He also worked as an architectural consultant for the Commof Mass for compliance under the American Disabilities Act.
Besides his father, he is survived by one son, Charles W. Swanson III of Shirley, three sisters,Wendy and her husband Philip Welton of Shirley, Lynn and her husband “Harley” Gilbert ofMich., Robin Swanson and her partner, Karen Swan of Tyngsboro, Heidi and her husband DavidLloyd of Tewksbury, a step-mother Sylvia (Berry) Swanson of Casco, Maine, a step brother, Rickand his wife Joline Berry of Harrison, ME, three step sisters, Leslie and her husband John Barryof Fryeburg, ME, Teresa and her husband Peter Windrush of Casco, ME, Hope and her husbandEd Barker of Naples, ME, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and grand nieces andgrandnephews, and his long time personal care attendants he playfully dubbed the “Quad Squad’Hilary Anderson of Chelmsford and Maria Valdez of Lowell.
His funeral was Monday, Dec. 24, in the First Baptist Church, Andover Road, (Rte 133) No. Tewksbury.