Frank J. Swift, 81 PORTLAND -- Frank J. Swift, 81, died suddenly at his home in Portland on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009. The son of Frank C. and Loretta (Skelly) Swift, Francis John Swift was born on May 10, 1927, in Brooklyn, N.Y. While attending school as a teenager, he worked as a butcher's delivery boy and in a maraschino cherry bottling factory. At age 17, Frank quit high school in order to enlist in the U.S. Navy to fight in WWII. He enjoyed his service as a bugler on the USS Little Rock. He visited many cities in South America and was proud of being both a 'shellback' (crossing the Equator) and a 'horn-blower' (rounding Cape Horn) in 1945. After the war ended, Frank returned to Brooklyn and graduated from Fort Hamilton High School. He attended Mohawk College in Utica, N.Y., but had to leave when his G.I. Bill benefits ran out. He went to work as a salesman for Robin Hood Flour, a division of International Milling (later International Multifoods.) Frank met Zo' Head at a dance in Bangor in the summer of 1950, while he was working for Robin Hood in Maine. Zo', a teacher in Laconia, N.H., was taking graduate courses in education at UMaine Orono. He always said that he, a tall man, first asked her to dance since she looked like she had long legs. They fell in love, and on Dec. 23, 1951, were married in Laconia, N.H. As Frank progressed at Robin Hood, he and Zo' moved from Hanover, N.H. to Essex Junction, Vt., where their two children, Anne and Chris, were born, and then to Long Island, N.Y. Frank was promoted to be International Multifoods' district sales manager for New England and northern New York and they moved in 1957 to Portland, where he spent the rest of his life. After his retirement, Frank - a gregarious man who loved to meet and talk with people of all kinds - enjoyed his part-time work at National Car Rental at the Portland airport. Frank enjoyed hunting, fishing, genealogy, square-dancing, and playing bridge. He was a voracious reader particularly interested in history. He and Zo' made several trips to Europe where they researched their ancestors in Ireland and England and visited their son Chris who lived in Germany. After retirement, Frank was a faithful member of the Woodford's Club, where he had many friends. Frank took particular and great pride in his family, whom he loved and supported all his life. He was a man who always wanted to help his family and friends, who will sorely miss his love and friendship. He lived a long, full, and rich life. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Zo' Head Swift; his daughter Anne Swift-Kayatta and her husband Bill Kayatta of Cape Elizabeth; and their children Katherine Kayatta of Portland and Elizabeth Kayatta of Boston; and his son Chris Swift and his wife Rae Ann Swift of Germany and Tulsa, Okla.; and their children Austin and Dana Swift of The Woodlands, Texas, and Sean and Aaron Hedin of Tulsa, Okla. Other survivors include his sisters Virginia Swift of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Audrey Graf and family of King's Park, N.Y.; as well as his brother-in-law Bruce Head of New Hampshire; and nephews David Eldridge and family of Florida, Richard Eldridge and family of New Hampshire, and Tom Head and family of New Hampshire. Visitation will be Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 1342 Congress St., Portland. Interment with military honors will be at Brooklawn Memorial Park, Portland. A reception will be held at the Woodfords Club, 179 Woodford St., after the services. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: The Woodfords Club 179 Woodford St. Portland, Maine 04103 Frank J. Swift Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home & Cremation Service 775-3763

Published in the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram from 2/15/2009 - 2/17/2009