Patsy Swain
Patsy Swain, 82, Loving Wife, Mother & Grandmother
Rebecca Conderman (Patsy) Swain passed away June 12th surrounded by her family due to complications from leukemia at the age of 82. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Cliff Swain, her three children, Chip Swain, Becky Sanderson (Jason) and Ted Swain (Amanda), and her seven grandchildren, Sam, Brady, Jack, Lucy, Colton, Ben and Rachel.
Born in Pittsburgh in 1944, Patsy was the second of four children of Theodore Conderman and Margaretta Frew Conderman. She attended the Ellis School in Pittsburgh and the Foxhollow School for Girls in Lennox, Mass., graduating in 1961. Growing up, she spent her summers in Jackson, Wyo., roaming the countryside with her siblings, Margo, Ted and Billy.
She attended the Katherine Gibbs School for Secretarial training, eventually moving to the Philadelphia area where she worked for a travel agent. After two years, she moved to work for the Law Review at the University of Pennsylvania. “I need to work with men” she would later laughingly re-tell her desire at the time. It was there where she met Cliff, a young law student and they would never look back. They were married in April 1969 living in Center City, Philadelphia where they began their family. In 1973, they moved to their long-time home in Mt. Airy where they would live until 2020.
Though never having a full-time career, Patsy was busy through her many volunteer activities. She was an active volunteer at Chestnut Hill Academy and Springside School serving as a class parent and as co-chair for Hey Day, the annual parent fundraiser. For more than 15 years, she led the USTA Junior Grass Court Championships held annually at the Philadelphia Cricket Club – a tournament that featured future tennis stars from around the globe. With her long-time friend Lynn Gadsden, she led the Chestnut Hill Dancing Class and she worked part-time at the Clothes Closet consignment shop at Chestnut Hill Academy. She also volunteered with WHYY in Philadelphia supporting their annual fundraising auctions in the 1980s.
One of her favorite pastimes was supporting her children at their various sporting events – whether it was the baseball, field hockey, lacrosse or football fields or the squash or basketball courts, her children could count on Patsy to be there with her patented four-fingered whistle to cheer them on from the sideline. “Bring home a win” was the last thing said to her kids on game days and it was a true sign of support.
She was an avid golfer and bowler, leading her teams with a unique balance of competitiveness while never taking herself or the games too seriously. She was also an extremely gifted needlepoint worker. She worked part-time for years at Barbara Russell Design in Chestnut Hill and then for Rittenhouse Needlepoint in Center City, stitching designs for their customers. Patsy enjoyed nothing more than spending a summer night with one eye on her needlepoint and the other glued to that night’s Phillies game. Her friends and family were often gifted one of the many pillows, belts, doorstops or wall hangings that Patsy could stitch in no time flat.
Most of all, she loved her family. She was always there for her children and adored each of her grandchildren, pitching in whenever needed. Whether it was changing diapers, giving rides to activities or anything in between, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and especially enjoyed watching them become the mature young adults they are today. She would always say, “Hey Cliff, aren’t we lucky to have this family?” The answer was that we were the lucky ones to have her.
There will be a Celebration of Life at 11am on Friday, June 26th at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, 415 W. Willow Grove Ave in Chestnut Hill with a reception to follow. Please dress comfortably for the weather. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a memorial donation in honor Patsy Swain to the Asplundh Cancer Pavilion. Gifts can be made here or by mail: Asplundh Cancer Pavilion, Abington Health Foundation, PO Box #3, Abington, PA 19001.
