Julian Meyer Swiren's Obituary
Julian Meyer Swiren
On February 26th, 2015, family, friends, neighbors, former students, colleagues, and people he’d met all over the world lost a very dear and respected loved one and friend.
Born the son of a prominent Orthodox Rabbi in Philadelphia, Julian met Corky, his wife of 64 years, while at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees. While teaching and raising a family, Julian also earned his Doctorate in Education from Penn State.
For almost 40 years, Julian educated, entertained, and inspired countless students as an elementary and junior high teacher in Philadelphia, Lower Merion, and Riverside NJ; as a religious school teacher, junior congregation leader, and principal at Beth Judah, Temple Israel, Main Line Reform, Beth-El Suburban, Temple Shalom, and Congregation Or Ami; and as a Professor and Chairman of Counselor & Secondary Education at West Chester University. Julian also served his country during WWII in the Merchant Marines and Army--and after as an Army Reservist.
Raising 3 sons, Julian and Corky treated them to memorable summer family vacations in Niagara Falls, Canada and the Thousand Islands, Lake George, and a 40-day cross-country excursion which one son still claims was the basis for the movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation”! Later, with Corky by his side, Julian traveled all over the world, experiencing and participating in life and varied cultures close-up - - piloting every mode of transportation imaginable, including a ship thru the Panama Canal; living in Yurts in Tibet; riding Camels in Egypt; walking the Great Wall of China; snowmobiling in Iceland; and more.
Each time they returned home from one of their expeditions, Julian and Corky would organize narrated slide shows of their adventures for family, friends, and interested locals. After retiring to Florida, first as “snowbirds” and later permanently, these travelogues became a staple for large crowds of friends and residents at their retirement community.
In his spare time, Julian loved to paint the beautiful landscapes, which continue to adorn the walls of their homes. Julian also enjoyed playing chess and designing his multi-generational retirement “dream home.”
An intelligent, quick-witted, warm, generous, loving husband, father, and friend, Julian leaves behind an amazing legacy, and is sorely missed. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Corky, sons Scott (Melinda), David (Deborah), and Randy, granddaughters Sara and Jenna, grandsons Michael and Matthew, and a world full of people he met and who called him their friend.
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