Gerald D. Swim

Gerald Swim of Louisville, KY passed away on June 28, 2023. He leaves behind his wife, Bonnye, and children Jessica (Geoffrey Hale) and David (Lauren); grandchildren Brooks Ervin (Kristen), Tyler Swim, Courtney Swim, and Lindsay Hale; great-grandchildren, Evan, Kathleen, and Addison.

Gerald was born in Farmers, KY on Oct 17, 1934. He was the baby of his family with an older sister and two brothers to look out after him - so much so that when he started primary school he cried until his brother was made to permanently move back a grade to be with him. Later, his family moved to Cambridge City, IN where he finished his primary education and excelled in sports. He graduated from Union College in Barbourville, KY in 1956. While at Union, he served as class president all four years, lettered in basketball and track and became engaged to the "prettiest girl on campus." He was elected to the Union College Athletic Hall of Fame. Following college, he did graduate work at Union College and Eastern Kentucky University.

He began his career as a high school teacher, coach, and life insurance agent. He then moved to administrative work in medical related fields; first as a Kentucky Department of Health program coordinator, then as Assistant Dean and Director of Continuing Medical Education at the University of Louisville School of Medicine for 25 years until he retired in 1995. He was later awarded the Educational Achievement Award from the Kentucky Medical Association for Outstanding Contribution to the field of Medical Education.

During his tenure at U of L he became engaged with the work he loved that served Christ, serving as academic officer on behalf of the Christian Medical Dental Society providing continuing medical education and training for physicians and dentists serving in the mission field who could not return home to obtain the education necessary to renew their medical license.

Gerald's mother passed away from cancer in 1963 without end-of-life care and he prayed that others with terminal illness would receive appropriate medical care and comfort measures at the end of life. Motivated by the needs of terminally ill patients, he worked with two other individuals to found Hospice of Louisville serving 12 years on its Board of Directors. It was a continuing source of comfort to him that many would have the care they needed at the end of life through hospice.

In his final years of work, he was a founding member of the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons, an organization designed to train African physicians to become surgeons and stay in Africa to provide care to the poor and underserved in African mission hospitals. He served as the administrative officer for 13 years.

Gerald deeply loved his family. He was warm and witty and entertained the family at every gathering. He was a humble man never too proud to laugh at himself. Family often left his side with a laugh in their heart and a smile on their face. He also loved Christ and was dedicated to God and to the church showing kindness and compassion to each that passed his way.

Visitation will be from 10:00 am until the time of the service at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at Highland Baptist Church (1101 Cherokee Road Louisville, KY 40204) with burial to follow at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any contributions be sent to Hosparus of Louisville or to Highland Baptist Church.

To share a memory of Gerald or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.

To share a memory of Gerald or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.