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 CHARLESTON, S.C. - Orvar Swenson, M.D., passed away April 13, 2012. He was born Feb. 7, 1909, in Helsingborg, Sweden, the third child of Amanda and Carl Albert Swenson. He grew up with his brother, Alvin; and sister, Lillie. His father was a wheelwright and a missionary of Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints, now known as Community of Christ. In 1917, his family immigrated to Independence, Mo. By the time he reached his teenage years both of his parents had died. He and his brother lived in a boarding house and started a business making fire by friction sets for the Boy Scouts. This business, Woodcraft, grew to include archery equipment and, for a short time, field hockey sticks. It is now a nationwide company selling equipment and tools for woodworking. In 1929, Orvar graduated from William Chrisman High School, Independence, Mo., where he had been elected president of the student council, was captain of the debate team and president of Anti Smoking League. He graduated from William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo., in 1933. He then forsook the business world and entered Harvard University Medical School, Boston. He and his brother, Alvin, were in the same class and shared textbooks. After graduation he served his internship at Ohio State University Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. He returned to the Harvard University program at Boston Lying In Hospital for his surgical residency. He spent a year as Tracey Cabot Fellow doing research on Hirschsprung's Disease and during that year developed a bowel resection procedure that became a cure for this disease. In 1941, he married Melva Elizabeth Criley from Independence, Mo. They honeymooned in the Smokey Mountains on their way to Boston where they settled and raised their three daughters. In 1945, he became an assistant professor in pediatric surgery at Harvard University, Boston, where he was a pediatric surgeon at Children's Hospital and worked with Dr. Robert Gross. In 1949, Orvar became the first pediatric surgeon at Tufts University, Boston Floating Hospital, Boston. In 1960, he moved his family to Chicago, and became surgeon-in-chief at Children's Memorial Hospital. Orvar traveled extensively demonstrating his Hirschsprung's procedure in hospitals all throughout the world: India, Australia, South America, Europe and Canada. During his career he received many awards and commendations worldwide and he served as president of American Pediatric Surgical Association from 1964-1965. He wrote more than 100 papers published in numerous medical journals. His book "Pediatric Surgery" was a standard textbook read by pediatric surgery residents worldwide. Orvar had a passion for sailing and spent 50 years sailing his various boats, SS Enema, Golden Arrow, Three Belles and Droja, in the Great Lakes, Eastern Seaboard from Maine to Florida and the Mediterranean Sea. In 1973, he retired with his wife, Melva, to Rockport. They were snowbirds and also had a home in Fort Pierce, Fla. He took up woodworking in retirement and made many beautiful pieces of furniture. In 2000, Orvar and Melva moved to Bishop Gadsden Retirement Community, Charleston, S.C. Orvar was married for 67 years when his wife, Melva, died in 2008. Orvar Swenson loved the adventures of life as well as truth and family. He had a keen interest in world affairs and environmental issues. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends, especially daughters, Wenda Elizabeth Swenson of Houston, Elsa Swenson Teel of Blue Hill and Melva "Mimi" Swenson Owens of Charleston, S.C.; grandchildren, Catherine Devore Johnson, Christopher James Edmond Devore, Jenna Viktoria Frasca, Tyra Lilly Walsh, William Orvar Owens, and Evan Swenson Owens; and great-grandchildren, Ethan Devore Johnson, Lila Elise Johnson, Matiyah Victory Frasca, Beckett Criley Walsh, Wyatt Swenson Walsh and Thayer James Devore. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the chapel at Bishop Gadsden. The family will greet friends after the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bishop Gadsden Residents' Assistance Fund, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel, Charleston, S.C. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.
Published in BDN Maine on April 17, 2012
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