Obama sends condolences for Sparks campaign worker

BY TAMMY KRIKORIAN
tkrikorian@rgj.com

The widow of a Sparks man who died while campaigning door-to-door for Barack Obama last weekend received a personal phone call from the Democratic presidential nominee expressing his condolences.

Edmond Dewey Swensen, known as Dewey, was campaigning in Sparks on Oct. 18 when he suffered a massive heart attack and died, his wife Susan Swensen said Friday.

In addition to speaking to Obama, Susan Swensen said she also received flowers from him and has VIP seats for his campaign appearance in Reno today.

She said her husband, 64, had been campaigning for Obama for just four days but that it had changed him.

“It was like he had a complete purpose,” she said.
When Obama called her on Monday, Susan Swensen said she didn’t answer the phone because she didn’t recognize the number, but called back and spoke to Obama directly.

He’d also left a message on her voicemail to offer his condolences and express his gratitude for Dewey Swensen’s campaign efforts.

“I’m so sorry for your loss and so grateful to you and Dewey for volunteering for the campaign,” Obama said in the message. “Obviously it’s a heartbreaking situation, but I just wanted to you to know I was thinking about you and praying for you and I hope all the great memories that I’m sure you must have tide you through these difficult times.”

In telling her story to friends and family members this week, she said people have been moved by Obama’s compassion.

“Of all these thousands of people ... he took the time to call me. Me,” she said.
Swensen, 64, grew up in Oakland, Calif., and worked for General Motors for 42 years until retiring in 2006.

When Swensen decided to canvass for Obama, it gave him a new energy and excitement, Susan Swensen said.
“I can’t explain the feeling — the excitement, the exuberation he had for Barack Obama and to go campaign,” she said.

Susan Swensen wasn’t with her husband when he died, but said he was with several female campaign volunteers who had come from San Francisco.
She said volunteers who had known her husband just four days or even four hours said they felt like they’d known him forever.

“My husband was a big storyteller,” she said. “He loves to be surrounded by ladies, loves to talk to them. He was in his element — totally in his element.”

Dewey Swensen enjoyed riding motorcycles and was active with the Sierra Eagles motorcycle club. He also enjoyed photography and music, was an avid reader and loved watching the SciFi channel.

“He was a wealth of information,” Susan Swensen said. “You could ask him a question and you’d be there an hour and a half.”

He also had compassion for people, she said.
“When he became your friend, you were friends for life.”

Audio: Obama leaves message for Susan Swensen