Jim was born in Sioux City, Iowa on December 12, 1945. The family moved to Southern California, first to Downey and then moving to Oxnard his sophomore year in high school. Jim graduated from Santa Clara High School in 1963 and attended Ventura College until he and his brother, Bill, enlisted in the Air Force.
Jim served bravely in Vietnam in the Air Force Medical Corp. Following an honorable discharge, he graduated from California State University, Stanislaus with a BA in Political Science, a minor in History and earned a Teaching Credential from the University of California Santa Barbara.
For 40 years Jim taught the youth of Ventura County. He was happiest at Santa Clara High School and was most proud of his work with Student Government, Advanced Placement American History, Government/Civics, supporting the athletic and activity programs, annual fiesta and witnessing the successes of his students. He was a teacher throughout various Ventura County Schools and found his calling in teaching at Ventura County Court Schools (Juvenile Hall). He had a tremendous amount of patience and respect for his students to give them the best education he could.
Jim will be remembered for his love of government and history which was evident in his choice of books, TV, movies, and travel. He was a wealth of information and always ready to provide context to discussions with anyone who wanted to talk. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, loved music, percussion instruments, and was a die-hard Yankee fan. Football season did not begin until the Yankees season was over.
Jim is survived by his wife of 41 years, Margaret “Margie”, his children: Bill Swisher (Karen), Laurie Kennedy (John), Jack Swisher (Sarah), Sarah Unchangco (Anthony), Katie Hunter (Austin); 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild: Cassy, Taylor (James), Brandon (Taylor), Athena, Nicholas, Owen, Ellie, Winnie, Graham, Vicente “Chente”, Leah (Dave), Haley (Steven) and great-grandchild, Max; his siblings: Jackie Ford (Ed), Mary Beth Ortel, Kathy Hernandez (Ray), Bob Swisher (Linda), Margaret Lopez (Bob) and Patty Schulz (Doug); Aunt Mary Kay Thompson, and preceded in death by Barbara Meyer (Dick), and Bill Swisher (Susan).
The family would like to thank Livingston Caregivers (John, Katherine, Latisha, Alyssa, Sue, Jessica, Pam, Natalya, Dorian G., Dorian O., Alondra, Rosa, and Frances), Livingston Home Health (Brianna, Vivian and Carrie), Trainer (Dave Meza), and the numerous doctors (Ford, Zager, Wong, Edwards, Goa, Searle, Rosenberg, Kassar Ora, Wu, Liao, So, Evans, Nguyen, Kurt, Rosenbloom), to name a few. The many physical therapists who treated Jim with kindness and dignity, especially Two Trees Physical Therapy and Tessa Waggoner. Our heartfelt gratitude to the staff of St. John’s Camarillo ICU and ACU, St. John’s Regional 2 South and the two Emergency Departments; especially Shannon, Mayu, Robin, Jerry and Cassie. We surrounded Jim with love and held him in a very sacred place until he continued his journey to everlasting life. Jim, you were such a gift to me (Margie) and I pray that you stay “Forever Young”.
A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Assumption Church, 3175 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, CA on May 31, 2024, at 10:30am with Military Honors followed by a celebration of Jim’s life at Los Robles Greens, Thousand Oaks from 1-3pm. A gathering for those who would like to share stories will be on Thursday May 30th at 4pm at the Swisher Family home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests the donations be made in the name of Jim to the Hutton Family Catholic Education Fund c/o Our Lady of Assumption. Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.