Judith A. Swanson

Judith A. Swanson quietly passed away on January 16 at Mt. Carmel Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after a long period of failing health. Judy was born in Manchester on September 21, 1943, and was the daughter of Walter Swanson and Evelyn and Clarence Lassor. She spent her childhood years in Manchester having graduated from Chandler School before moving to Goffstown. She graduated from Goffstown High School in 1961 and continued her education at Plymouth State College. Judy completed her studies with a Bachelor of Education degree in comprehensive business education in 1965, and she later pursued a Master's Degree in education at Boston University.
Judy had a strong work ethic and after graduating from PSC, she began teaching in the business department at her alma mater, Goffstown High School, in September 1965. Shortly thereafter she was named head of the business department; her career at GHS spanned a period of 35 years.

During the summer following her graduation from PSC, Judy began working as a "girl Friday" for Gerald Carmen at Car Go in Manchester. She worked for Gerry for many years, and this second career eventually led to her appointment as Administrative Assistant to Ambassador Gerald Carmen at the General Services Administration in Washington, D.C. while on an extended leave of absence from teaching. She served in this position for three years under the presidency of Ronald Reagan.

Judy loved to take on leadership positions and served many years as a building representative and on the executive board of the Goffstown Education Association. She also served as president of the New Hampshire Business Education Association and president of Straw Hill Condominium Association.

Judy had a wonderful outlook on life, was well respected, and was a great friend to everyone; she never had an enemy. During her lifetime she had the great fortune to do a lot of traveling with many of her good friends throughout the United States as well as to many different parts of the world. Judy loved to read—especially a good mystery that had a murder within the first three pages. One of Judy's trademarks was her daily calendar which no one ever saw but which contained all kinds of important information such as birth dates and anniversaries. Once Judy knew when there was a special occasion in someone's life, that person would forever after receive a card of acknowledgment on that special date.

Judy is survived by her cousin Linda and husband Vinnie Volante of Kittery, Maine, and their children and grandchildren; her best friends Anna and Louis LaForce and their children Amara and Marc and wife Brenda, and grandchildren Carter and Madison LaForce; and Joseph and Mary Panarese and their children Christopher and Tara and husband Ronald and grandchildren Steven and Ana DiBurro. Ambassador Gerald Carmen and his family were a very special part of Judy's life.

A celebration of Judy's life was held on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Lambert's Funeral Home, 1799 Elm Street, Manchester, NH. In lieu of flowers it is requested that donations be made to Central High School (Matthew S. Panarese Scholarship on the memo line), c/o Jessica Zych, Central High School, 207 Lowell Street, Manchester, NH 03104.