Benjamin Swann - Obituary

enjamin Randall Swann, Jr., 73, passed away due to a brain tumor on July 22, 2011 in Tracy's Landing, MD. Ben was born July 27, 1938 and lived on Swann Road in Suitland, MD. He graduated from Gonzaga High in1956. He then went on to attend Catholic University where he graduated with a BS in Engineering in 1962. He returned and earned a Master's Degree in Acoustical Engineering and was a member of the Tau Beta Pi Honor Society for Engineers. He was a licensed Professional Engineer and a 50 year ASME member. During Ben's career he had the opportunity to be part of the search team for the Nuclear Submarine Thresher. He investigated the sinking of both the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Angelina Lauro when he worked for NTSB. Ben later worked at NOAA on undersea topography mapping systems deployment. He finished his career at NASA Goddard Space Center as an Aerospace Engineer where he worked as an Underwater Astronaut Trainer and on the Space Shuttle arm deployment testing for use with the Hubble Space Telescope modifications. Ben was married to Joanne Synowiec (50 years) and is survived by his son, Ben Swann III, Jeanne Swann Hillock (Kevin) of Annapolis, and Julie Swann Copeland (Paul) of Greenville, SC. He will be missed by his grandchildren Francesca Swann, Arielle Hillock, Marston and Hayden Copeland, his beloved sister Joan Swann Creighton, his nieces Mary Whyte, Ceci Drew and nephews Ben and Robert Walsh. Ben and Joanne moved to Stuart, FL in 2002. They were 20 year members of the Marine Trawler Owners Association. They were active in many environmental and political causes over the years, but lastly in the Rivers Coalition in efforts to clean up the St. Lucie Estuary. Ben was a 2nd degree KOC. A memorial mass and celebration of life service will be held at Saint Anthony's Catholic Church in North Beach, MD on August 11, 2011 at 11:30 am. For memorial contributions, the family has designated the American Brain Tumor Association at abta.org or ABTA, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Ste. 550, Chicago, IL 60631.