Alvin A. Swenson ’64

Chap died peacefully April 11, 2018, in White Haven, Pa., after a six-month battle with kidney cancer.

He grew up in suburban Philadelphia and attended Penn Charter School. At Princeton, he majored in English, played varsity football as an All-Ivy guard, and joined Tiger Inn. His roommates — Chandler, Kuffler, Mayo, Parsky, and Roberts — remember fondly his penchant for undertaking big do-it-yourself projects to avoid studying for finals, such as building a motorbike. Senior year he married Ginger, adding immeasurably to his stature on campus, and his life.

In his 20s, Chap took over Swenson Ford when his father died and later had his own Chevy dealership. Ginger and Chap had three children. When the marriage ended, he worked at a ranch in Colorado and horses became one of his passions, along with motorcycles.

Eventually he returned to Pennsylvania, married Ruth, and had two more sons. He became a successful car dealership trainer for Maritz and later a salesman of Harley-Davidsons. He rode a motorcycle to Montana to meet his last wife, Signe, in person, bringing her to our roommate reunion there. Sadly, she died of cancer in 2012.

Chap retained to the end his ebullient personality, refreshing candor, and strong passions — often unfettered by practicality. He is survived by Kiri, Chip, Will, Luke, Kit, and six grandchildren.