Thomas Richard "Dick" Schwan

Mr. Thomas Richard “Dick” Schwan, 69, of Biloxi died peacefully with his family present on Monday, February 4, 2013 in Biloxi after a brief illness. Dick attended Notre Dame High School in Biloxi, MS where he played on the undefeated football team in 1960 and was the Valedictorian of his senior class. He went on to study electrical engineering at Mississippi State University where he received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. Following R.O.T.C. at MSU he served in the Army for two years as an Intelligence Officer. Dick spent the bulk of his life in beloved Pensacola Beach, FL where he worked as a Systems Analyst for 25 years with IBM. More recently he served as an Administrative Manager for the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department for 10 years before retiring. Dick was known as the “Birdman” in his Shalimar, FL community, as he was notorious for feeding the ducks, geese, coots and various water fowl on Garner’s Bayou. Besides being known as the “Technical Tom” with computers, his interests include fishing, boating, visiting the national parks and most of all spending time with his nieces, nephews and family. He served as an usher and was a member of the Knights of Columbus in St. Mary’s Parish in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. Mr. Schwan is preceded in death by his parents, Jules and Callie Austin Schwan, Sr. Survivors include his sister, Sarah (Bob) Landry of Biloxi; his brothers, Jules (Rhonda) Schwan, Jr. of D’Iberville and Robert (Mary Grace) Schwan, Sr. of Mobile, AL; his nieces and nephew, Robert A. (Diane) Schwan, Jr. and Theresa Schwan (Jeremy) Williams both of Mobile, AL; Julia Claire Landry of Santa Clara, CA and Lucy Ellen Landry of Biloxi; and his great-niece, Shelby Schwan and great-nephews, Noah Schwan and Cade and Jacob Williams, all of Mobile, AL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in D’Iberville on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. Friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until mass time. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1900 Dunbarton Dr. Suite H, Jackson, MS 39216, the American Diabetes Association, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Dr. Suite 2470, Jackson, MS 39213 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.