Jeanine "Jeanie" S. Swaim

Jeanine Shepherd Swaim age 68 of Concord passed away peacefully in her residence on Tuesday April 28, 2009. She was the wife of Charles Thomas Swaim and had lived in Concord for 41 years.

Born in Boston on June 30, 1940 she was the daughter of the late James E. and Maxine (Elliot) Shepherd. Jeanie graduated from Garden City High School in Garden City, New York and from Ohio Wesleyan University. She worked as a nutritionist for the American Medical Association in Chicago and for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge before her children were born.

Jeanie then devoted herself tirelessly to her family and community. She and Tom were among the handful of young parents who founded the Milldam Nursery School when they realized the need for a new pre-school in Concord. Jeanie always enjoyed working with others who had various talents and skills to accomplish a worthwhile goal. She was active in parents groups in her three boys’ schools, as a Sunday School teacher, and as a strong supporter on their sports team. As co-chairman of the Concord Country Club pool committee, she and her co-chair developed the first swimming/tennis/golf program there for children. When her family moved to London for two years, Jeanie was a scout leader, active in the school parent group, and was on the leadership team that initiated the first international section of the well-known Community Bible Study program. In addition she traveled extensively with her family throughout Europe. Back in Concord, she became the president of the Concord Carlisle High School Parents Association during a time when many new ideas were needed and programs initiated to keep a vibrant parent community strongly supportive of the students, teachers and administrators there. She partnered with a creative staff member to develop the first Summer Opportunities Program at the high school. She was also on numerous community boards and committees.

Jeanie’s love of gardening and flowers led her to be active in the Garden Club of Concord. She was particularly happy to be the club’s president during its festive 100th anniversary year. The club took on new commitments in town beautification during her two-year term, in addition to continuing its support of many other local organizations devoted to conservation, landscape and gardening education, and to spreading floral greetings throughout the town.

Jeanie was devoted to her extended family, thoroughly enjoying hosting with Tom two large annual family reunions at their lake-side vacation home in Meredith, New Hampshire each summer. Their siblings, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews joined Tom and Jeanie’s children and grandchildren for weeks full of merry activities and relaxation. Jeanie was also treasured by many friends.

Beside her husband, Jeanie leaves her three sons and their wives, Jeffrey and Justine Swaim of Shrewsbury, David and Michelle Swaim of Arlington and Derek and Jenna Swaim of Winchester, eight grandchildren, Katherine, Noah, Laura, Zoe, Matthew Luke, Taylor and Jason. Jeanie’s sister and her husband Sherry and Frank Sargent of Littleton, Colorado; her sister-in-law and her husband Nancy and David Crone of Berea, Ohio; her step-mother, Annabelle Shepard of Concord as well as numerous other cherished members of her extended family.

VISITING HOURS
Friday - May 1, 2009
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
CONCORD FUNERAL HOME
74 Belknap St.
Concord,l MA 01742

MEMORIAL SERVICE
Saturday - May 2, 2009 - 1:00 p.m.
Trinitarian Congregational Church
54 Walden St.,
Concord, MA 01742
Rev. Dr. John C. Lombard, Senior Minister

INTERMENT
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
Private

GIFTS IN HER NAME MAY BE MADE TO:
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund c/o Dr. Matulonis
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
44 Binney St.
Boston, MA 02115
or
High Rock Church
735 Massachusetts Ave.
Arlington, MA 02476

Arrangements under the care of Glenn D. Burlamachi
CONCORD FUNERAL HOME
74 Belknap St.
Concord, MA 01742
978/369-3388
www.concordfuneral.com

Proud to be family owned, operated and occupied.