Thomas F. Swartz

Tom was a respected leader in the transportation logistics industry, having worked more than 37 years at Overnite Transportation, now owned by UPS Freight. He was known as a mentor, advisor and counselor to many. 

He was the chairman of the government committee with the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). Also he was a member and a committee chairman of National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA).

He dedicated his time to service and was a longtime member and past vice president of the Crofton Kiwanis Club. This included organizing the inaugural Tour de Crofton bicycle race for the town’s anniversary.

Tom was a member of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton church and served more than 15 years as an usher. He also volunteered one Sunday afternoon to help with construction as the church was being built. At the time, mass was being served at Crofton Woods Elementary School.

Tom enjoyed boating and other recreational water activities and spent a lifetime visiting Ocean City, Md. for vacation. He was the captain of a 19-foot “runabout” boat, named after his daughter and frequently took the boat out in the Chesapeake Bay, Severn River and the bay in Ocean City.

They occasionally ventured into the ocean as well. He used the boat to go water skiing and crabbing and enjoyed many weekend day voyages with his family. 

Tom began cycling for health reasons more than 30 years ago, but it quickly turned into a passion. He joined the Annapolis Bicycle Club and earned the nickname of "legs." He began doing century rides across Maryland and occasionally competed.

This included receiving gold medals in statewide races in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland and Virginia, qualifying him to compete in the National Senior Games, commonly known as the National Senior Olympics.

He competed in the national games from 2009 through 2017 and won the bronze medal and a 7^th place ribbon in Cleveland, in 2013.

Tom loved to travel, and a highlight of his life was visiting Poland, the home of his ancestors. Tom connected with his distant relatives there with the help of his American cousins. Tom and his daughter traveled to Poland twice, and he and his sister helped organize a family gathering where dozens of relatives traveled from across the country to reconnect or meet for the first time. 

In 2015, he fulfilled his dream to travel to Cuba. He visited the country with his wife and daughter on a cycling tour.

An avid cook, Tom frequently tried to replicate many Polish recipes especially during the holidays. He especially enjoyed preparing meals for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Tom is a 1972 graduate of the University of Maryland, with a B.S. degree in Transportation. He also was a certified to practice before the International Commerce Commission, a former independent government agency that was charged with regulating the economics and services of carriers engaged in transportation between states.

He was a lifelong Maryland Terrapins fan and held season tickets to the Washington football team for more than 30 years and at one point attended every Sunday game.

He was the proud father of one daughter, Kristi, 43.

Besides Rebecca and Kristi, Tom is survived by his sisters, Jeanne and Constance, and a number of nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Jerome J. Swartz, a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, and his mother Henrietta Mae Swartz Heim. 

In Lieu of flowers please donate on Thomas's behalf to bikemaryland.org or mdfoodbank.org