William Alfred "Bill" Swain

Apr 6, 1937 -

Jul 15, 2025

William Alfred "Bill" Swain, 88, passed away at home in Newton, Mass., on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Bill was born in Omaha, Neb., the son of William Edward Swain and Mae Elizabeth (Brown) Swain, on April 6, 1937. He grew up in southern Minnesota before attending the University of Minnesota.

Bill's working years were wide-ranging, including the U.S. Coast Guard, sales, journalism, banking and ultimately owning and operating a successful real estate firm in Alaska. Bill was an adventurer and athlete starting with football and continuing with fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking and all sorts of high-adrenaline adventures such as hang-gliding and heliskiing.

Bill's enduring passion was the water and more specifically sailing. He sailed across the Atlantic, built a wooden boat and passionately restored and cruised in the steel-hulled sailing vessel, Logos.

Bill and his beloved wife of 49 years, Patricia, loved to travel and adventured around the world. Bill will be remembered for his quiet strength, hearty pre-ski breakfasts, carpentry and woodworking skills, commitment to social justice and sense of fun.

Bill is survived by his children from his first marriage, Bill Swain of Dauphin Island, Ala., Stacy Swain of Roslindale, Mass., and Kimberly Swain of Sudbury, Mass.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Bill is preceded in death by his and Patricia's daughter, Karen Korn.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at the Village Church in Weston, 130 Newton Street, Weston, MA 02493. The service will also be live streamed through wellesleyvillagechurch.org.

The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Habitat for Humanity, an organization that Bill supported with his time and talents.