Obituary of Charles Michael Swartwout

“Charlie was a great guy!” That seems to be the consensus. He could be brutally blunt but usually he was calm and patient with anyone and everyone. And there was no one better than Charlie if you needed someone to turn to for help. He’d not stop until he’d figured out how to take care of it, no matter how difficult or how long it took, even when it was his turn to put supper on. Charlie Swartwout was a man of many talents and knowledge, and for most of his spare time, you’d find him behind his computer. He’d spend hours at a stretch, chatting with friends in far off places, learning the latest about all things digital, and tinkering, always tinkering with something on his computer. He would get lost in his books – no point in talking to Charlie while he was reading because he’d never hear a thing! He loved Star Wars and Star Trek, but Lord of the Rings? Not so much. Yet Lord of the Rings brought Charlie new online friends and the love of his life. When Charlie became a first-time home-owner only 5 years ago, he proved handy at many things – he could eyeball a level surface perfectly and install lights without electrocution – but plumbing was his downfall. Charlie will be forever remembered by his loving wife Phillipa and his furry kids Griffin and Zephyr, and also stepson Logan (wife Jessica and daughter Sybil), his mother Barbara, and his sisters Christine, Stephanie (husband Mike and son Alex), and Rachel (husband Mike and son Michael). Although Charlie is someone who would avoid attention and stay home when he could, his friends and family are invited to join the Celebration of Charlie’s Life, which will be held at the John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo St. at King St. on Sunday January 26 at 11 am. At 11:30, we will share our reflections about Charlie’s place in our lives. Light refreshments will be available. In lieu of flowers, donations in Charlie’s name would be appreciated. Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre http://www.salthaven.org/home Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada https://www.heartandstroke.ca/ American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/