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Timeline for Thomas Swann
Born:
Died: August 10, 2023
Tom passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease on August 10, 2023. He grew up in Flat Rock, Michigan where he was captain of his high school track team. Tom graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS in Mechanical Engineering.
Tom left Ford Motor Company in the Mid-1970s, relocating to Los Alamos, New Mexico. He specialized in optics and laser technology at Los Alamos National Labs and left to become a serial entrepreneur. He received an MBA from the University of New Mexico and founded Optomec Design, an additive manufacturing company in Albuquerque NM. He consulted in Optical-Mechanics and government contracting for many years.
Tom was also the Financial Director of Bonanza Conventions, Inc. which hosted several Bonanza TV western conventions at Lake Tahoe over a ten year period. Tom went on to help restore Ponderosa II, Lorne Greene’s former home in Mesa, Arizona. He and his wife Louise hosted Bonanza fans for four additional events at Ponderosa II between 2013 and 2019.
Tom was an accomplished Optical-Mechanical Engineer. His life’s work led him from designing chassis for Ford Motor Company to designing lunar landing experiments for Apollo 17. Through all of this far reaching work he never forgot his love for family and his Bonanza Community.
Tom is survived by his wife Louise, daughter Jennifer Swann Von Boetticher and son Andrew Swann.
No services are planned. A donation may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Tom’s name.
My sincere condolences to the Swann family. May Tom's memory always be for a blessing to all of you.
Wonderful to have known you Tom. Remembering you with love and laughter. Pat Hirst .
I love you honey, always and forever. You were the best years of my life.
A wonderful man who will be much missed. Vicki Christian
I too, met Tom through Bonanza, t I think the first year may have been 2002 at Lake Tahoe. A quiet, gentle man he was, and everyone that knew him liked/loved him. Tom and Louise were quite a team Tom was the quiet one, Louise was the bubbly one and they truly complemented and balanced each other out. They had a wonderful love story and the events they put on in the Ponderosa II were wonderful events. Friendships have been forged in the Bonanza community because of Tom and Louise, not only within the US but with those that came from other countries as well. He will be greatly missed by many, but my heart really goes out to Louise because she will miss him most of all. ❤️
I remember Tom well as the quiet gentleman who was always kind and helpful no matter what. When I came to my first Bonanza convention, I was pretty sick. Tom and Louise were so generous with me, carting me back and forth from our room to the Ponderosa II. The second time I attended the Bonanza convention, I got to help the Swanns behind the scenes. Such wonderful memories!
I was so sad to hear the very sad news of Tom ,such a lovely man who I met in 2019 on there last convention,Tom and Louise made everyone so welcome ,god bless you Tom RIP ,BERTIE x
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Tom. I met him through our mutual love of Bonanza and we shared some fun trips together while I was assisting in setting up one of the conventions at Tahoe. Tom was a real gentleman in the true sense of the word and he will be greatly missed by many, including the Bonanza family of fans. Condolences to Louise and Tom’s children Little Joe forever Lynne (UK)
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Our sincere condolences.
The staff of Marana Mortuary & Cemetery.
My sincere condolences to the Swann family. May Tom's memory always be for a blessing to all of you.
Wonderful to have known you Tom. Remembering you with love and laughter. Pat Hirst .
I love you honey, always and forever. You were the best years of my life.
A wonderful man who will be much missed. Vicki Christian
I too, met Tom through Bonanza, t I think the first year may have been 2002 at Lake Tahoe. A quiet, gentle man he was, and everyone that knew him liked/loved him. Tom and Louise were quite a team Tom was the quiet one, Louise was the bubbly one and they truly complemented and balanced each other out. They had a wonderful love story and the events they put on in the Ponderosa II were wonderful events. Friendships have been forged in the Bonanza community because of Tom and Louise, not only within the US but with those that came from other countries as well. He will be greatly missed by many, but my heart really goes out to Louise because she will miss him most of all. ❤️
I remember Tom well as the quiet gentleman who was always kind and helpful no matter what. When I came to my first Bonanza convention, I was pretty sick. Tom and Louise were so generous with me, carting me back and forth from our room to the Ponderosa II. The second time I attended the Bonanza convention, I got to help the Swanns behind the scenes. Such wonderful memories!
I was so sad to hear the very sad news of Tom ,such a lovely man who I met in 2019 on there last convention,Tom and Louise made everyone so welcome ,god bless you Tom RIP ,BERTIE x
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Tom. I met him through our mutual love of Bonanza and we shared some fun trips together while I was assisting in setting up one of the conventions at Tahoe. Tom was a real gentleman in the true sense of the word and he will be greatly missed by many, including the Bonanza family of fans. Condolences to Louise and Tom’s children Little Joe forever Lynne (UK)
Marana Mortuary & Cemetery
Our sincere condolences.
The staff of Marana Mortuary & Cemetery.