Family, Community Continue to Mourn Loss of Young Civic Leader

Cindy Swena has a defining image of her son Matthew: arms outstretched, wide grin, head thrown back, “high on life.” It’s a pose that’s interspersed throughout their family photo albums, and the spirit behind it has been a source of comfort in the days since he passed.

“Matthew did more living in 33 years than most people will do in a lifetime,” she said.

Matthew Swena passed away unexpectedly on March 1, following an outpatient back surgery that “went very wrong.” His family — and the community — is still grappling with the void he left behind.

Swena was newly married and on the verge of realizing his dream of opening a microbrewery in Chehalis. He was a member or volunteer in a seemingly endless list of civic organizations: the Twin Cities Rotary Club, the Chehalis Masonic Temple, Young Professionals Lewis County, United Way, Centralia College and the Olympia Choral Society. 

“He was passionate about every single thing that he did,” said Ashley Witchey, office manager at Express Employment Professionals. Swena managed the Express offices in Centralia, Olympia and Aberdeen. “He was always so excited to tell you about these things that you wanted to go to them too.”

But it’s not this checklist of activities or accomplishments that defines Swena to those who knew him best. It’s the joy he seemed to bring to every situation, the feeling that he valued each person in his life. His family realized just how many lives he’d touched when the tributes started pouring in, when they had to hold three celebration of life events to accommodate all those who wanted to pay their respects.

“He saw the best in everyone,” said Laura Spoor, who married Swena in October. “He saw people's potential, even when they couldn't see it themselves. … He found fulfillment in being part of things that were bigger than himself — this marriage, his amazing family, the Rotary, the Masons, the Olympia Choral Society, United Way, and all of the other organizations where he volunteered or served on the board of directors.”

If his family was always hearing about his passion for the community, his friends in the community were always hearing about his family. 

“In a conversation, it didn't take him long to mention his wife, parents, siblings and friends,” said Dutch Meier, who got to know Swena through the Masons. “There was never any hesitation or reservation about Matthew when he spoke of the people closest and dearest to him.”

Now that he’s gone, Swena’s family finds comfort in knowing how much he prioritized spending time with them. In the Swena family, each holiday and birthday was a big affair, and family trips and drop-by visits were regular occurrences.

“He was crazy about his family,” said Cindy Swena. “He couldn’t be with us enough.”

The Swenas moved to Chehalis in 1993. That was about the time Ron Swena came into the picture. Cindy’s husband would become more than a stepdad to Matthew, but a “hero and best friend,” she said. The family bonded over backpacking trips, Ron helping to lace young Matthew’s perpetually untied boots, Matthew and his younger sister Jessica learning which wild edibles were safe to eat, Cindy and the kids climbing trees. Jessica and Matthew, Cindy said, were “more like twins than twins.” When the family adopted another son, Bryson, Matthew looked after his new little brother. 

“Matthew was a very loving, caring, giving individual,” said Ron Swena. “As a little child and even as he grew up into an adult, he would always give in every aspect of his life.”

Swena earned a business degree from Walla Walla University, and went on to hold a variety of roles — interspersed with world traveling — before moving back to Centralia three years ago. Express owner Reid Bates brought him on to manage the company’s Centralia office, and he quickly realized he’d made a good hire.

“There were times where he was just so positive that I'd say, ‘Matthew, I'm gonna force you to look for some negative thing,’” Bates said. “He had really an ability to take something and turn it into a learning opportunity.”

Swena’s employees echoed that.

“Have fun no matter what” is the lesson business developer Guy Steel takes away from his time with Swena. “There’s always a time for laughter and always a time to smile.”

Brandy Weaver, industrial staffing consultant with Express, said she spent Thanksgiving with the family after Swena found out she didn’t have a place to spend the holiday.

Fellow Rotarian Larry McGee recalled his first time working with Swena on a project, a book drive. 

“Matthew is up to his ankles and elbows in books and is working away,” he said.

Impressed with his work ethic, McGee asked him what he did in his free time.

“I love to sing Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ in German,” he responded. 

It’s that all-in enthusiasm and wide-ranging intellect that will be missed, McGee said.

“Heaven knows what he would have accomplished,” he said. “It would have been great. It was already darn good.”

Swena’s big ambition was opening a microbrewery with his stepfather, Ron. The pair picked up brewing as a hobby that became a passion, entering their beers in contests and scoring high marks. They were collecting equipment, lining up contractors and poised to sign a lease on a building in Chehalis once Matthew recovered from his back surgery.

“He was so excited,” Ron said. “It was his dream, and it was my dream too.”

He recalled fondly their weekends mastering another beer, Cindy bringing food as he agonized over every detail, Matthew reassuring him after each mishap that “it’ll probably be the best beer we’ve ever made.”

“I finally just had the first brew day without Matthew,” he said. “It was tough. A lot of crying and memories.”

For all of Swena’s seemingly limitless endeavors, none of those who worked with him felt like they were getting a fractional effort.

“When we had an idea, Matthew was there to talk to,” said Angela French, resource development director at United Way of Lewis County, where Matthew volunteered. “When we needed advice, Matthew lent his ear. There wasn't a task he turned down.”

In the Rotary Club, he was serving as membership chairman, a demanding task in an organization with an aging membership. He had committed to taking on the role of president in the future.

“I know he was busy with a lot of other organizations, but he was very thorough,” said Dale Merten, president of Twin Cities Rotary. “He just never dropped the ball. He had a lot of qualities I wish I had.”

Swena was also the president of the Chehalis Masonic Temple and a board member of Young Professionals Lewis County. He volunteered at Centralia College, which has set up a scholarship fund in his name. 

His legacy will live on in other ways as well. Ron is still planning to open the brewery in his son’s memory, though the timeline has been pushed back as they regroup from the loss. And his family will try to honor him with how they live their lives.

“We can just hear Matthew,” Cindy said. “How strong he would feel about us going on and pushing on and living. We can hear that pretty clearly.”