FORT EDWARD – Gladys (Fasoli) Swigert, 99, of The Oaks, passed away peacefully, on Friday, August 15, 2014, at the Fort Hudson Health Care Facility in Fort Edward.
Born on February 28, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Yula (Ashley) Fasoli.
On December 21, 1944, she married Robert Mason Swigert, Sr., in Stamford, Conn. After almost 50 wonderful years of marriage, he passed away on August 23, 1994.
Gladys graduated with a teaching degree from Hartwick College in Oneonta. After teaching for a few years, she decided to continue her education at Albany State, graduating with a degree in chemistry.
Gladys spent most of her life as a research chemist. In the mid 1950’s, she was one of the first woman to work with an electron microscope. Gladys was employed for many years at Imperial, later known as Hercules and Ciba Geigy in Queensbury. Following her and her husband’s retirement, they took a six month trip to the South Pacific. During their retirement, Gladys and her husband spent part of the year in Florida and part at their camp on the Hudson River.
For her entire life, Gladys had a desire to learn. While in her 80’s she signed up for a class in microbiology while living in Florida. Gladys knew more than the professor and ended up teaching the class. She also was a mineralogist with a beautiful collection of minerals and cut gems. She and her husband contributed mineral collections to the Pember Museum in Granville and supplied study minerals to the geology department at Adirondack Community College.
Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her three brothers, Paul Fasoli, Stewart Fasoli and Louie Fasoli.
Survivors include her son, Robert M. Swigert, Jr. of Hudson Falls; three grandchildren, Robert M. Swigert, III of Statenn Island, Ryan Swigert and his companion, Alyssa Kopacki of Hadley and Ashley Swigert and her companion, Kurt Brown of Corinth; her great grandson, Tyler Brown of Corinth; her brother, Leland Fasoli and his wife, Janice; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and many wonderful friends at The Oaks.
Friends may call on Saturday, August 23, 2014, from 11 to 1 p.m. at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls.
Prayers will be offered by Reverend Arthur Hewitt at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.
Following the prayers, Gladys will be laid to rest next to her husband at Union Cemetery in the town of Fort Edward.
The family wishes to thank Gladys’ special friend, Eleanor Pearson and the entire staff at The Oaks for their love and support. They also deeply appreciate everyone at the Fort Hudson Health Care Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
