It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our 68th President of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles our fellow Rotarian and friend Philip (Phil) V. Swan who served as President in 1976 - 1977.
Phil was 88 and passed away on December 7, 2017 after a two year “battle” with Alzheimer’s disease.
On the business front Phil was the visionary co-founder of Clifford Swan Investment Counselors who lovingly and respectfully manage more than $2.5 billion in assets for financially successful individuals and families, not-for-profit organizations, foundations and endowments.
Phil began his career in the investment management industry in 1955 as a securities analyst with Clifford Associates. For 23 years, he was associated with the national firm, Lionel D. Edie & Co, where he managed Southern California operations and served as an officer and director of the company.
In 1984 he founded his own Advisory firm, which merged with Clifford Associates in 2007 to become Clifford Swan Investment Counselors. The two companies joined together based upon a shared heritage and common values of independent advice, rigorous investment research, and commitment to clients.
Throughout his career, Phil Swan was passionately dedicated to providing exceptional investment counsel to individuals, families, and charitable entities.
However on the occasion of the memorial service held on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at San Marino Community Church ... there was only very modest mention of the significance of Phil's professional career. The tributes shared by his closest friends and family with those in attendance focused on Phil the individual, a son, husband, father, grandfather, historian and "simple good citizen" of our community and indeed the world.
In fact, Phil’s daughter Sara shared an insider’s perspective about her dad that really says it all. Almost every morning as the kids were getting ready to leave for school and Phil was heading off to the office he would remind his kids to: “fight for truth and freedom!”
What a legacy to leave behind for your children … indeed for us all!
While Rotary's Four-Way Test was not read the tributes shared certainly affirmed that Phil lived his life by the values expressed in it:
Of the things we think, say, or do:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
These are the values which guided Phil in the life he lived!
Phil is survived by his wife, Kay Schwarberg Swan; daughter Karen Steen and son-in-law Eric Steen of Kansas City, Missouri; daughter Sara Swan of Los Angeles; and son Philip A. Swan of Pasadena. His legacy also includes seven grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his first wife (who many of us knew well) Sally Preston Swan.
Phil … thank you for your positive impact on our lives through the Rotary Club of Los Angeles and thank you for touching our hearts ... we pay homage and tribute to you and the life that you lived as we pray:
"May the Lord bless us and keep us.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be gracious to us.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon us, and give us peace."
God bless you Phil Swan!
