JACKSON HOLE, WYO –
UPDATE (January 18): County coroner Dr. Brent Blue has determined the cause and manner of death in the case of David J. Swift to be natural as a result of a “ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm due to hypertension.”
With a heavy heart, Buckrail has learned and confirmed the death of noted local photographer David Swift, 69. He died yesterday afternoon while skiing a trail in Grand Teton National Park.
With permission, Buckrail shares here a touching tribute to Swift from Kathryn Turner who was likely the last person to see him alive. The valley artist was certainly that last person to photograph Swift—one of the more infrequent times the well-known shutterbug was on the ‘other’ end of the lens.
Turner said she emailed the photos to David, not knowing at the time he would never see them. After their chance encounter on the groomed ski trail, as Turner headed back to her car, Swift fell, alone, and dying.
He was found unresponsive by an off-duty park ranger. He never regained consciousness.
Turner said Swift was his usual self when she talked with him. He was as vibrant and alive as ever. That’s how she will choose to remember him, she said. Even though it doesn’t make sense to her now.
In her words:
Yesterday when I was skiing, I was fortunate to find a treasured friend on the track. David J Swift. We talked about the blessings in our lives—family, friendship, and all that is beautiful. With David, it takes no time to get to the heart of things. That’s because he wore his on his sleeve and shared it generously with everyone.
I could have never known that, as I was skating back to the trailhead, he had collapse on the track behind me. I am devastated by this thought. Still I want to report to all those who loved David like I did, yesterday, he was happy and strong—soaking up the sunshine and views of the mountains that never seemed so tall.
He shared his glittering, abundant love of this valley and those in his life until the very end.
