Obituary: June Van Deusen Swan
Published: Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 4:49 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 4:49 p.m.
June Van Deusen Swan was passionate about many issues — social justice, ending the death penalty, protecting animals — but as a mother and grandmother she was most passionate about wanting her family to experience the joys of life.
Swan, 82, died of Pseumonia Jan. 15, while being held in the arms of her granddaughter, Julie White.
Swan was a former elementary school teacher and winery owner. She and her husband Joseph Swan founded Joseph Swan Vineyards in Forestville in 1969.
“She was the most incredible grandmother. She was always encouraging independence, to do and be something in life. That didn't mean you had to be rich, but be a good person and be a part of your community and be a part of your family,” said her granddaughter of Forestville.
“She was adventurous... ‘Let's go hiking, see nature.' She wanted us to be out doing things. Education was really important and living life was really important,” White said.
“She was just wonderful,” said her daughter, Lynn Berglund of Forestville.
June Van Deusen was born and raised in San Francisco. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a psychology degree.
She and fiancé Eugene Osborne were married during a live radio show, after she'd called in and won a contest for the opportunity. A newspaper recorded the event with a story and photo.
They had two daughters and later divorced. The young single mother then earned a teaching credential from San Francisco State.
Her first job was teaching kindergarten at Mark West Elementary in Santa Rosa. After a few years a job teaching in Watts took her and the girls to Southern California.
There she and neighbor Joseph Swan fell in love.
Merging their families and following his dream of wine making, the Swans bought some land near Forestville in 1967. The property included a nearly century old farmhouse and several acres of old zin vines. They started Joseph Swan Vineyards.
Joe Swan worked as a commercial pilot and the winery started as a hobby. Family members helped with the effort.
“I remember being really little, at a family thing, bottling when it was time to bottle, the crush, everybody was out there picking. Grandma was right in there with everything,” White said.
As well as helping at the winery, June Swan continued teaching, including years in Cazadero and at Parkside Elementary in Sebastopol.
She also continued her advocacy work, actions that got her arrested, including during protests against the death penalty.
“She was active in the ACLU, the Peace and Justice Center. Nuclear disarmament, I remember she had art auctions at wineries to raise money,” said Berglund.
In her final year she returned to Forestville and lived with granddaughter Julie and Stan White and her three great-grandsons.
As well as her daughter and granddaughter, she is survived by daughter Karen Proteau of Heartsville, Tenn.; step-sons Tony Swan of New York, Mike and Chris Swam of Templeton and Eric Swan of Calistoga; step-daughters, Cate Swan of Monte Rio and Sandy Swan of San Ramon; three great-grandsons; brother Pieter Van Deusen of Great Britain and long-time companion Martin Roth of Corte Madera.
Written or spoken memories are encouraged for sharing at a memorial celebrating her life at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Robson Harrington home, 237 Crescent Road, San Anselmo.
Memorial donations may be made to rescue and recovery efforts in Haiti, the ACLU, Sonoma Land Trust or a favorite charity.
— Randi Rossmann
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