Former manufacturer’s rep Robert (Bob) Lee Swan died on March 27 in Sarasota, Florida. He was 88.
After serving in the United States Marine Corp. from 1956 to 1958, Swan went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi in 1970. Swan was a rep for Telescope Casual Furniture for several decades before retiring in 1999.
“Bob was one of my favorite sales representatives,” said Henry Vanderminden IV, president, Telescope Casual. “I worked with him for a little over a decade during the ‘90s, and he taught me a lot and was a great mentor.”
During his time as a rep, Swan met Barbara Berola, a casual furniture buyer for Burdine’s department store in Miami. The two fell in love and married on Valentine’s Day 1978, settling in Marietta, Georgia, soon after.
Swan was a skilled tennis player, ranking No. 3 in doubles in Georgia during 1982-1983, and after moving with his family to Florida in 1985, Swan became an avid sailor. Following his retirement, Swan and his wife moved to Sarasota, Florida, in 2008, where he became a frequent golfer and pillar of his community. Swan served on several community boards, contributing to the beauty of his neighborhood.
Swan also became an automobile enthusiast after purchasing his first antique car, winning ribbons in several auto competitions.
Swan was born on Nov. 21, 1936, in Memphis, Tennessee. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Barbara, his son Lee (Eva) Stevens, his daughter Kevin (Perrin) Lowrey, sister-in-law Carol Cercone, grandchildren John Madison (Lisa) Guise, Justice Guise, Jed (Lauren) Stevens, Ben Stevens and Sam Stevens, great grandchildren Henry Guise and John Oliver Guise and multiple nieces and nephews.
