Birth date: Dec 4, 1953 Death date: Apr 2, 2026
William Swift, 72, of Huntersville, NC passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026 surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was born on December 4,1953 in Queens, NY. He is preceded in death by h Read Obituary
It has taken me a while to write about my brother Bill. I am his older sister, by 2 yrs., and we were always close, not just in years, but in interests, values, and love of family. We grew up in Queens and Bethpage NY, played baseball together, flipped baseball cards throughout our summers, rode bikes, played in snow whenever we could, attended the same schools and even had some of the same teachers. We had another brother Louis who we loved and shared interests as well.
We grew up as friends, not just siblings. So many of us can say we love our siblings but not everyone “likes” their siblings. We did. I loved both Bill and Louis but I really liked them. I liked the men they became, the lives they carved out for themselves and the values they lived by. I respected them, trusted them, and now miss not only my brothers but my wonderful friends with whom I share so many memories. To both of them I say “till we meet again”❤️ Liz
Bill and I met in the 1970's when we both worked at Hills Supermarket in Plainedge, Long Island, NY. We would have our summer picnic at Eisenhower Park, which was nearby. At one of the picnics, I wandered off a little to do something, can't remember what, and I suddenly hear behind me what sounded like someone running toward me, because I could hear branches breaking like someone was running over them through the woods. I turned around and saw Bill. I said oh hey Bill, what's up? He said oh someone told me you were over here having a fight with someone. I said no, I don't know where they got that from, you must have misunderstood them. And I said but the fact that you thought that and then came running over here tells me what a great friend you are. I brought this story up to him when I called him shortly after his diagnoses. I'm not sure he remembered it, but that's because he was just doing what was to him the natural thing to do. I remembered it all these years because it struck me as special, which it was. I'm so glad we kept in touch all these years. And now as I write, I have to wait for my eyes to stop tearing, so I can re-read my story before posting. Till we meet again Bill, thanks for many wonderful memories...
Bill was a wonderful friend and he will be remembered fondly and sadly missed.
This photo was taken in East Meadow, NY the home of Billy’s cousins The Crennan’s Easter 1967. Pictured are Liz, Billy, Louis And Billy Sr. The other characters are twins John and Kevin Crennan (decreased). The other boy was our beloved neighbor Kerry!
William Swift, whom I already knew as "Billy" was of my best friends growing up on the street where we both lived: Farm Ranch Road South in Bethpage, NY. A talented athlete, and principled young man, I knew his family well, especially his parents and siblings, "Liz" and Louis. It is nice to learn of his adult life and the loving family he created. My condolences to all of you who knew and loved him.
