PRESQUE ISLE – Dana M. Swett, 82, passed away May 6, 2008, at a local health care facility. He was born June 8, 1925, in Ashland, the son of Charles F. and Alice (Metcalf) Swett. Dana grew up in Ashland and attended Ashland schools, getting his diploma from NYA Vocational School, Dexter, in 1943. His career spread more than 42 years at Maine Public Service Co. from Groundworker to safety director. He was an Emeritus member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and received a 25-year plaque for his outstanding commitment to safety awareness. He was a member of Maine Safety Council, Electric Council of New England and served as liaison representative of OSHA. As a young man in Ashland, he was active in Ashland’s community; chairman of Ashland Community High School District, Rotary Club; president and director of Chamber of Commerce; district chairman of North Star District, Boy Scouts of America; executive board of Katahdin Area Council, BSA; licensed lay reader of the Episcopal church; held many offices of Ashland, Aroostook County and Maine Republican Committee; clerk and director of Ashland Industrial Development Corp. and Ashland Public Library. In 1964, Dana married Linda McCrum of Mars Hill, and they made their home in Presque Isle. In Presque Isle, Dana again participated in community activities, director and chairman of Aroostook Chapter of the American Red Cross, Presque Isle Rotary Club; president of Great Northern Publishing Co., P.I. Chamber of Commerce; member of Higher Education Assistance Foundation; director of Dollars for Scholars; president of Aroostook Raceway and Northern Raceway; president and trustee of Northern Maine Fair; 50-year member of Pioneer Lodge No. 72; corporate board of Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital; and commissioner of Presque Isle Housing Authority. In 1994, he organized and served as director of Probus, a club for professional and business retirees. Dana served Rotary International as district governor, serving clubs in Eastern Maine, New Brunswick and one club in Quebec. Dana was a Paul Harris Fellow. He led the effort to construct The Forest Resource Council Building at the Northern Maine Fairgrounds. Dana loved harness racing. He bought yearlings, broke, trained and drove them in the Maine Fair circuit, Yonkers, N.Y, and Freehold, N.J. He won the first Maine Sires Stake Race in the state of Maine with Mar Con Ceasar and broke three Maine track records with Stonegate Consort. His love of racing never quit. He was a member of Maine Standard Breeders Association, U.S. Trotting Association and was a class A harness driver with U.S. Trotting Association. Dana and Linda enjoyed 18 years of retirement, wintering in Myrtle Beach, S.C. They developed another family of friends at Royal Gardens. He enjoyed his golfing so much. Dana was a kind and loving soul. He was loved and respected by so many and will be deeply missed. He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Linda; a daughter, Deanna Jo of Charleston; granddaughters, Michele O’Connell and her husband, William, of Hawaii, Monica Rowe and her husband, Brian, of California; great-grandchildren, Shawn, Kyle and Brenna O’Connell, and Reyden and Connor Rowe; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, James, Clair, George and Hubert Swett; half sisters, Jean Snowman and Dorothy Murphy; and half brothers, Charlie and Bud Swett. Relatives and friends may call 6-8 p.m. Friday at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle, where Masonic memorial services will be conducted 5:30 p.m. by officers and members of Pioneer Lodge No. 72 AF & AM. Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Robert Smith officiating. Interment will be at Fairmount Cemetery. A reception will be immediately after the interment in the reception area of the funeral home. Those who wish may make gifts in his memory to the Dana M. Swett Scholarship Fund, Ashland High School, care of Linwood McHatten, MSAD 32, P.O. Box 289, Ashland, ME 04732. Condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com.
DANA M. SWETT
