VICTORIA A. SWANSON

Victoria Bishop Swanson was known to us as the woman with a sense of humor and breast cancer. Born on April 14, 1952 Vicky was a Syracuse native, graduating from Bishop Grimes High School in 1970. She worked for the Syracuse School District for 20 years and was a liaison for business partnerships and was a mentor coordinator.

As a comedienne she founded Vicky’s Comedy Cure. She entertained audiences with her story about her battle with breast cancer. “Laughing for the Cure” benefitted many in Los Angeles, California, Houston, Texas, Oslo, Norway, and Edinburgh, Scotland and at our own New York State Fair.

Vicky worked closely with the Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Cicero to establish “Rocking for the Cure”. Participants sway back-and-forth in custom rocking chairs to raise money for cancer research. Hillary Clinton attended the event.

She received many awards for her efforts: the 2000 Advocate for Women’s health from the National Organization of Women as an Unsung Heroine; the 2000 McKee Award-Education Sector from McKee Food Corporation and Partners in Education; and was named New York’s Most Successful Mentor Coordinator.

A contributor to the fight against cancer, Vicky was recognized by the American Cancer Society’s “Coaches vs. Cancer” with the “Victoria Swanson Fighting Spirit Award” in April, 2002 at the Basketball Gala. This award is given annually to a volunteer whose efforts have significantly strengthened the “Coaches vs. Cancer” program.

Vicky’s childhood friends were friends for life. Her sense of humor and humanity kept more women focused on their lives rather than the perils of this devastating disease. She never lost her focus but, at 49, she did lose her life on October 20, 2001.

Vicky is survived by her children, Erik, Jason and Nicole of Liverpool; her mother, Mary Bishop of North Syracuse; her siblings Maria Bishop, Dominick Fiore and Anthony Bishop of Syracuse, Nicholas Bishop of Michigan, Joseph Bishop of North Carolina and John R. Fiore of California. She gave a lot and we lost even more. Vicky, we miss you.