July 10, 2008

Alice Swanson '07

Sad news today as we learned of the death of Alice Swanson of the Class of 2007, killed when she was hit by a garbage truck while riding her bicycle to work in Washington, D.C. yesterday.

Swanson, of Northborough, Massachusetts, was working at the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), a nonprofit organization that promotes educational programs around the world.

In an article in The Boston Globe, John M. Guilfoil writes that “[Swanson’s] co-workers and résumé paint a picture of a bright, young woman who loved international affairs and travel.”

The Washington Post covered the story as well, with this to say about Swanson’s work after Amherst:

Swanson had an internship in Washington last year at the Middle East Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. She graduated from Amherst College with a degree in Middle East history, according to the institute’s Web site. The site says she studied Arabic at the institute.

She remained in the city after that and began work in January as a program associate at the International Research and Exchanges Board […]

The organization released a statement saying: “The loss comes as a terrible shock to all of us here. She was a well loved employee and friend to all who knew her.”

Swanson is remembered on the websites of IREX and The Middle East Institute.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends, and would appreciate hearing any memories or thoughts from those who knew her.

Update 11 July: The Washington Area Bicyclist Association placed a ghost bike for Swanson near the site of her death. Catherine Pfaffenroth ‘01 shared some photos of the memorial.

Brian Meacham '97 | July 10, 2008 01:50 AM | Alumni

Comments

Rick | July 10, 2008 10:49 PM:

I haven't seen Alice since 2003, and before this happened I never realized that she had gone to the same high school that I had (the whole time I knew her she was a student at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science). In addition to her obvious talents with language and interest about the world at large, Alice was also talented in mathematics, having represented western Massachusetts on an "all-star" math team -- one of just 15 students who earned a spot on the top team. That's how I knew her.

What a terrible loss...

Mike | July 14, 2008 08:43 AM:

There is a video of the ghost bike memorial for Alice at http://bicyclespokesman.com/a-ghost-bike-memorial-for-alice-swanson/

Comments are now closed for this entry. Thanks.


Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.amerst.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/306