Clara Lincoln Swan
Bangor – Clara L. Swan, 104, died after a brief illness on January 7, 2017 at a Bangor nursing facility. She was born April 28, 1912, in Princeton, Maine, the daughter of Andrew Coburn Swan and Grace (Coffin) Swan. Clara graduated as the Class valedictorian in 1930 from Brewer High School. After graduation, Clara attended the Maine School of Commerce which is now known as Husson University. After graduating in 1933, Clara spent the next five years teaching school in Mexico, ME and Dover-Foxcroft. Clara earned degrees from the University of Maine and American International College before returning to Husson in 1939. While at Husson she respectively held the position of Dean of Academics and Vice President. Clara coached basketball at Husson for 19 years holding a 240-34-7 record including two undefeated seasons. Clara was inducted into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014. Clara touched the lives of so many of her students over her teaching and coaching career and often kept in contact for many years after. Clara enjoyed her free time watching the Boston Red Sox and coaching them from her favorite chair. Clara’s special place was her camp on Green Lake where she spent most of her summers trolling for the big one. Clara was never a person to sit still for long and after her retirement she spent countless hours volunteering at St. Joseph’s Hospital, delivering meals for Meals on Wheels and teaching exercise classes to seniors. As well as staying an active member of special organizations such as Altrusa International and the Retired Teachers Association of Penobscot County. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a sister, Ruth O’Brien, sister, Elizabeth Butler and brother, Andrew Swan, nephew Gerald Richard Butler and special friend Mildred Bradford. Surviving is Clara’s niece, Clara (Butler) Sheehan and her husband William of Bucksport. Great niece, Cammie Sheehan-Harriman and her children Alex and Paige Harriman of Bucksport. Great nephew, William Sheehan and his wife Kelly and their children, Olivia, Jase and Sawyer of Hermon. Clara is also survived by her special companion her cat, Kitt. As well as special friends Dennis & Carolyn Dodge and Buffie McCue. A service of remembrance will be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 28, 2017, at Gracie Theatre at Husson University, with the Rev. Sarah Pringle-Lewis, Husson University Chaplain, officiating. Those who wish to remember Clara in a special way may make gifts in her memory to the Clara Swan Scholarship Fund, c/o Husson University, 1 College Circle, Bangor, Maine 04401 or the Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mt. Hope Avenue, Bangor, Maine 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.