Honoring the Life of Ted Swagerty
President’s Corner Winter 2025
by Janice Reid
This winter, our community received the sad news of the passing of Ted Swagerty, a Roseburg native whose life reflected a deep commitment to service, creativity, and environmental stewardship. Though he recently made his home in Portland, Ted remained connected to the Umpqua and to Umpqua Watersheds in meaningful ways. Those connections have resurfaced in the form of donations in his name.
Many may remember Ted from his early involvement with Umpqua Watersheds. In 2006, he joined our Board of Directors as a recent Umpqua Community College graduate, bringing to the organization the perspective of a journalist and campaigner. Even then, Ted carried a strong sense of responsibility to his community and to the natural places that shaped him. His time with us may feel long ago, but the values he shared, integrity, stewardship, curiosity, echo through our work today.
Ted’s life path was as vibrant as it was purposeful. He trained as an apprentice electrician, and he put those skills to work in imaginative ways, including through the construction of tiny homes. His commitment to simple, resilient living extended far beyond his craft. Ted traveled widely, spending time in Asia and reflecting deeply on community, sustainability, and the human spirit. Those reflections became part of his blog, Resiliency Rising, where he explored how individuals and communities meet hardship with creativity and courage.
While words can’t capture the fullness of a life, the generosity shown in his memory is a testament to the impact he had on those around him. We are humbled that his family, friends, and community have chosen to honor his legacy through support for Umpqua Watersheds, a place where Ted once volunteered his time and energy, and where his belief in a healthier, more resilient future still resonates.
On behalf of our board, staff, and members, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Ted’s loved ones. We honor his memory with gratitude and are reminded once again how deeply intertwined our work is with the lives of those who care for this region. Ted’s legacy lives on in the forests, rivers, and communities he cared about, and in the continued commitment of those who walk the path of stewardship after him.
Thank you to all who have contributed in Ted’s name. Your gifts carry his spirit forward.