Eric L. Swedlund, 49, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018 at his home in Alexandria, Virginia.
He was born April 24, 1969 in Chicago, Illinois. Raised in Wichita, Eric graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.A. in philosophy in 1991 and completed his graduate studies at the University of Kansas with an M.A. in political science in 1992. In 1993, he served as an adjunct professor at Yunnan Normal University in Kunming, China.
He then worked from 1993-2001 on The Hill in Washington, D.C. as the Legislative Director for U.S. Representative Stephen Horn (R-CA). Eric worked from 2002-2003 as a knowledge manager for Deloitte Consulting (Asia) LLP while living in Japan. After returning to the D.C. area, Eric served as Deputy Director for the D.C. office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2004-2010. He then started as a Senior Policy Advisor for Carpi & Clay in 2011, and was employed by the firm at the time of his death. Eric was a devoted father and a practicing Catholic. He enjoyed world travel, sailing, fly-fishing, reading, movies, and politics.
Preceded in death by his grandparents, Earl and Myrtle Swedlund of Stratford, Iowa, and J. Lewis and Iris Terrell of Wichita, Kansas. He is survived by two daughters, Kate and Ava; his parents, mother, Barbara Lyle of Wichita, father, Dean Swedlund and step-mother, Harriet Swedlund of Brookings; sister, Pamela Swedlund, of Wichita; stepsisters, Carolyne Hart (Dennis) of Brookings and Lizann LaGrange (Luciano) of New York City. A memorial fund has been established with George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Attn: Beth Reveles, P.O. Box 110, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. A Funeral Mass was held at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 13, 2018.
