Carlton E Swett M.D. Obituary (1929 - 2012)

Carlton E. Swett, M.D., died Jan. 14, 2012, in Lakeland, Fla., of natural causes. He was born on May 3, 1929, to Charles C. and Agnes (Keene) Swett and raised in Wilton, Maine. He married Kathy (Adams) Swett on January 5, 2002. He received his education from Wilton Academy, pre-med at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, MD degree from George Washington University's Medical School in Washington, D.C., internship at Wilmington, Del., and surgical residency at Dartmouth Affiliated Hospitals in New Hampshire. He also served as Senior Surgeon at the Littleton, Colo., Juvenile Federal Prison with the U.S. Public Health Service's U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons from 1954 to 1959. In 1963, he moved to Skowhegan, Maine, to begin his private practice as a general surgeon to fulfill his desire to practice medicine where he could get to know his patients on a personal level. Following his retirement, it pleased him greatly whenever his former patients would approach him. He was a well-respected member of the medical staff at Redington-Fairview General Hospital from 1963 to 1990. He also served as Medical Director from 1975 to 1990 and was a member of the Board of Directors for both the Fairview Hospital and Redington-Fairview General Hospital from 1964 to 1990. He was board certified by the American College of Surgeons, member of the New England Cancer Society, the Maine Medical Association, Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the MMA, Liaison Officer of the American College of Surgeons for the Cancer Program and Tumor Registry at RFGH (mid-70s through 1990). He joined the Masons at the Wilton Lodge No. 156 in 1951 where he received his 50-year pin in 2001. He became a member of Kora Shrine Center in Lewiston in 1965, where he served as Medical Director from 1994 to 1990, appointed as Outer Guard of Kora Divan in 1990 and elected Potentate in 2000. He was an emeritus member of the Board of Governors at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield, Mass., from 1994 to 2003. He was also a member of Somerset Lodge No. 34 in Skowhegan, Central Maine Shrine Club, Valley of Augusta Scottish Rites, Valley of Portland Scottish Rites and Sunset Chapter No. 53 of the Eastern Star, as well as a member of Jester's Put Stevens Court No. 107 and the Lake Region Biliken Club of Florida. He was Skowhegan's Man of The Year in 1993. He was a member of the Federated Church of Skowhegan and an affiliate member of the North Lakeland Presbyterian Church, Lakeland, Fla. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and enjoyed many years at Rockwood at the family camp and on Moosehead Lake. He fished all over North America from Labrador to Alaska and from Florida to western Mexico. He was an avid traveler, especially traveling in his motor home summer and winter. In addition to Maine, he enjoyed his winter home in Polk City, Fla. He was predeceased by daughter Susan Jean Swett, wife Beryl Swett and wife Joyce Y. Swett. Survivors include his wife, Kathy; son Jeffery (Christina) Swett of Goffstown, N.H.; stepsons Donald (Jill) Knight of Litchfield, N.H., and David Knight of Colorado; stepdaughter Leah (David) Dostie of Oakland, Maine; brother Keene (Joan) Swett of Iowa City, Iowa; grandson Joshua Swett of Goffstown, N.H.; step-grandchildren Callie (John) LaFleur and Lacey Knight of Litchfield, N.H., and Brooke and Matthew Dostie of Oakland; a niece, a nephew and cousins. In lieu of flowers, in celebration of Carl's life and his devotion to those less fortunate than himself, please make donations to the Transportation Fund at the Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104 or to the Federated Church, P.O. Box 504, Skowhegan, ME 04976. A Memorial Service will be held in the spring at the Federated Church. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart & Edwards Funeral Home 183 Madison, Ave Skowhegan, ME 04976; 474-3357