Robin Thomas Swift

Rob passed away 10/7/2024 in Tacoma, Wa surrounded by Jackie his wife of 60 years, daughter Julie Ladenburg (Alan), and son Ray Swift (Doreen).  He is also survived by grandson Max Ladenburg and granddaughter Cecilia Ladenburg (Martin).  Born in Elgin, ND on 6/29/1940 to parents Eugene Bud Swift and Verna Hopkins Swift.  He was pre-deceased by his parents, brother David Swift and sister Kathleen Swift Overton.

Rob grew up in Tacoma.  Just before starting high school his family moved to Sacramento, CA.   He graduated from McClatchy High School in 1958 and joined the Army.  He was sent to Ft. Benning, GA and played trombone in the band for most of the time he was there.  When he returned home he attended Sacramento State and graduated in 1965.  Jackie and Rob met while they were going to school and working at The Retailers Credit Association in 1963.  They married in 1964.

After 10 years of teaching elementary and junior high he decided it was time to change course.  He loved his students and they loved him but he didn’t like the bureaucracy of teaching and didn’t want to spend the rest of his life doing it.  He packed up his family and moved to Tacoma to be near his brother who had gotten him a job commercial fishing.  For a few years in the summers he fished up in Alaska and the rest of the year he started fixing up houses, selling them or keeping a few of them as rentals.  He started Swift Remodeling and started fixing others’ houses also.

In the early 80’s with a partner, bought a dilapidated old boarding house called “The Shirleys” and turned it into a beautiful apartment building called “The Farrah”.  During his retirement you could find him there most days either working there or just visiting with tenants.  He loved being a landlord and had a good rapport with most of his tenants.  He was there so much that Jackie begin calling that building “The Other Woman”.

He was a member of the Madrona, Meadow Park, and Highland Golf Clubs.  He loved golf and they were able to be in many couples tournaments around Washington.  He also joined The New Horizon Band and was able to play his trombone again.

After retiring from his business in 2003 he  traveled across country in a motorhome visiting many states.  The last ten years he and Jackie were able to become “snowbirds”.  They bought a place in Happy Trails (Surprise, AZ) and enjoyed many hours of cards, golf, billiards, wood shop or just basking in the sun.

Rob truly loved and enjoyed all of his family and friends and made the most of every day.  He had quite the skill at the Blackjack table and could often be found running off to the Emerald Queen.

The family would sincerely like to thank Drs. Patricia Russell, Sarah Kranick, Divya Mani and  many other Multicare doctors and nurses that cared for him.  A special thank you to Tacoma General ER nurse Rebecca. All the help from the PT, OT, and speech therapists from Good Sam and Multicare Home Health were so appreciated by him.  He was so thankful to be at GenCare with all the help he got from the caregivers, servers and Bryce.

There will be a Celebration of Life on November 3, 2024, 12:00 pm at the Pierce County Environmental Services Building at Chambers Bay.  He will be laid to rest at Haven of Rest Cemetery over looking Gig Harbor.