Obituary
view guestbook | sign guestbook

Edward Coverly Swift

Date of Death: May 8, 2020

Date of Birth: June 16, 1927

Biography:

Edward Coverly Swift passed away peacefully on the morning of May 8, 2020. He lived a full life of work, adventure and service to others.

Born on June 16, 1927 in North Scituate, Ma. son of Ward Cobb Swift (Pops) and Marjorie Newcomb Swift (Nanny) Ed spent his childhood playing in the farmlands and surf of North Scituate with his younger brother and best friend Ward Cobb Swift Jr,(Cobby). Pops and Nanny tempered the boys rambunctiousness with projects such as digging a backyard swimming pool by hand and sawing the roof off of their home to add a second floor. This love of seemingly impossible projects and hard work would follow Ed throughout his life.

Ed was active in the Boy Scouts earning his Eagle Scout award. He was extremely proud of this accomplishment and later in life would list it as one of his prime occupations. He lived his life as an Eagle Scout would.

After graduating from Scituate High School in 1945, Ed joined the United States Navy. He was stationed on the submarine tender USS Apollo in New London Connecticut where he served as a plummer and pipefitter. This experience and close ties to his inventor grandfather Edward Coverly Newcomb affected the direction of his education and career.

After his military service Ed began his college education at Hartwick College before finishing at Northeastern University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. During his college years Ed enjoyed auto racing and building race cars which must be seen as part of his education.

After college Ed met a feisty Coed from Colby College, Mary Fish Sargent who would become his wife. Ed and Mary were true partners in every sense of the word. From raising kids, to Mary’s antique business to her care when she was stricken with MS later in life Ed was always there for her.

Ed and Mary settled in Connecticut where he worked for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft and later United Technology Corp. During his 34-year career with them he worked on the Meteor Ram Jet program, J-52 gas turbine engine but spent most of his career developing a fuel cell electric generator.  The fuel cell supplied electricity for the Apollo Space vehicle and a later version was used to supply electric power to the space shuttle.

Later Ed would embark on a new career as a woodworker. Ed restored many of the fences around the historic homes of Glastonbury, did restoration work at both the South Glastonbury Congregational Church and The Wells Shipman house. His crowning achievement may be the replacement of the broken arch doorway at 1401 Main Street, a home that he and Mary bought and lovingly restored.

Ed, a person in perpetual motion, enjoyed mountain climbing. The highlight of his climbing experiences was an eight day trip where he and son Ned “bagged” 20 peaks. He was the 125th person to climb all 112 4000 foot peaks in the Northeastern United States. He organized a yearly ski trip to Tuckerman’s Ravine for the Figawi Ski Club.

His other interests included antique plane collecting, antique furniture appraising, the Glastonbury Historical Society and MacIntosh computers.

Ed is survived by his brother Ward Cobb Swift Jr of Lancaster Ohio, daughter Louise Swift Price ( Weezy) of Freeport Maine and son Edward Coverly Swift Jr (Ned) of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and grandchildren Eliza Price of Brunswick Maine, Ellis Price of Freeport Maine, Edward Coverly Swift lll, and Emelie Kalinin both of Hamilton.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Glastonbury Historical Society, 1944 Main Street Glastonbury, Ct. 06033