Doug Swanson died on October 19th, 2004, the victim of a homicide.
He is remembered by all as a remarkable human being who touched
countless lives. He was a superb husband and father, friend to
many, excellent lawyer, community activist, humorist, and
humanitarian. He is survived by his wife, Jane Ediger, his sons
Derek and Miguel Swanson (ages 18 and 12 respectively), his
brother Rick Swanson, his sister Judy Swanson and his father and
stepmother, Don and Pat Swanson. His mother, Shirley Swanson, died
in 2003.
Doug was born in Los Angeles on March 21, 1953. He grew up in the
Chicago area and attended the Laboratory Schools of the University
of Chicago. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of
New Mexico and obtained his J.D. degree from Lewis and Clark Law
School. He was admitted to the Oregon bar in 1980.
Doug was a founding member and principal of the law firm of
Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton in 1982. While in law school, Michael
Royce, Ray Thomas and Doug had a vision of starting a firm with a
unique focus on social justice. After graduating, they made that
vision a reality – a reality that continues today. Royce retired
from the firm and former classmate Jim Coon joined the
partnership.
Doug practiced workers’ compensation law, representing workers who
were injured or disabled through their jobs. His firm is also
noted for its personal injury work on behalf of plaintiffs,
winning cases in the areas of product liability and tobacco
litigation. The partners are supporters of a wide variety of
issues and causes in pursuit of the public good. Swanson, Thomas
and Coon recently purchased the historic Thomas Mann Building, at
Southwest 2nd and Yamhill in downtown Portland.
Doug had many interests and enthusiasms beyond his law practice.
He was a noted joke-teller. Recently he was called into service to
help a friend who walked a marathon. His duty, which he carried
out with style and enthusiasm, was to walk with her during the
last hour and tell jokes and stories to keep her spirits up
through the final tiring miles.
Doug was outgoing and friendly and widely known throughout many of
Portland’s communities, including those of city and county
employees, the legal community, and the soccer world, in which he
was a player, coach, soccer dad, and enthusiastic fan.
Doug was active in charitable, humanitarian and political work.
He was on the board of a local non-profit, Green Empowerment,
which provides support for renewable energy projects around the
world. He was on the board of the Brain Injury Association of
Oregon and did volunteer political and legal work for Pineros y
Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, representing Willamette Valley
farmworkers. Doug also took many trips to wild areas to make
trails, count birds, and otherwise show his love for wild areas,
plants and animals.
He was a former president of Oregon Workers’ Compensation Attorneys
(OWCA), a statewide association of claimants’ attorneys. In 2001,
he received the Douglas W. Daughtry Professionalism Award from the
Workers’ Compensation Section of the Oregon State Bar.
Doug was a devoted husband, father and friend. He was involved in
his children’s schools, sports and other activities. He was proud
and supportive of his wife Jane’s accomplishments. He and his
oldest son biked extensively around Portland. Doug knew how to
balance his life and his work. He recently spent countless hours
with an ill friend. Although Doug’s life was cut short by tragedy,
he lived fully and happily surrounded by all that life has to
offer.