September 14, 2011 

CAPE VINCENT, N.Y.  —  Captain Victor E. Swenson, 64, of East Broadway, passed away peacefully Sept. 14, after a brave battle with Renal Cell Carcinoma. He was at his home on the St. Lawrence River under the care of his family and Hospice of Jefferson County. 

Born Oct, 9, 1946, in Ithaca, the son of Victor A. and Grace Humbert Swenson, he graduated from Fonda-Fultonville High School and Lakemont Academy. He later attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on a baseball scholarship. He graduated with a degree in education. He furthered his graduate studies at SUNY Potsdam. 

He married Barbara Barnett on Dec 27, 1969, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The marriage ended in divorce. He later married Nancy Carroll Ewing on Oct. 11, 1998. 

Mr. Swenson worked as an elementary school teacher for The Thousand Island School district for 34 years in Cape Vincent, retiring in 2000. He was a teacher, mentor and coach who left his imprint on all he taught, and will always be remembered for the infamous “bonker ball”. 

Victor was a well-known fishing Charter Captain aboard “Katy’s Worry” since 1973. He introduced the St. Lawrence shore dinner and his famous rum cake to customers from around the corner and around the world. In September 2010, he put on a shore dinner for the river community and raised over $5,000 for the American Cancer Society. 

Mr. Swenson enjoyed many trips with his family and friends, fishing, hunting, sports, gambling and a Myers and diet on the porch.  

He was a member of the Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce, Lake Ontario Fisheries Coalition, Past President  of the Cape Vincent Fishing Guides Association and the NYS Retired Teachers Association.  

Surviving are “the catch of his life”, wife Nancy, Cape Vincent; and “his crew”, two sons, Erik and his wife, Julie, and Adam and his wife, Meghan, all of Cape Vincent; a daughter, Jill and her husband, Daniel Folsom, Crystal Lake; three step children, Timothy Fryberger, New York City, Todd Ewing, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Carolyn Burke, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; seven grandchildren, Alison and Addison Swenson, Andrew, Cooper and Grady Victor Swenson and Grace Viktoria and Amelia Folsom. 

Funeral Service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the United Church of Cape Vincent, with Rev. Mark Pierce officiating. Father Michael Carmola, a friend of the family, will be co-officiating. Burial will be at convenience of the family. Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, at Cleveland Funeral Home, Cape Vincent.  

Donations may be given in his memory to Hospice of Jefferson County, 425 Washington St., Watertown, N.Y. 13601. 

Information provided by Cleveland Funeral Home, Inc. and Newzjunky.com, Watertown