Educational Excellence Since 1912
Hamden Hall Country Day School
Educating students in PreSchool through Grade 12

Terry Swain, President Emeritus, Past Parent, Past Grandparent


Over the course of four decades, Terry was a stalwart devotee of Hamden Hall first as a parent in the ’70s and ’80s and later as a grandparent. He served on the Board of Trustees – including as president from 1989 through 1994 – for three decades before “retiring” in June 2011. At that time, he was honored with the title of Trustee Emeritus.

“Terry Swain embodied our core value of ‘participation.’ His impact on our school community cannot be overstated,” said Head of School Bob Izzo. “Through his time, talent, and treasure, Hamden Hall progressed over the years both in terms of our physical plant and our overall sustainability. More than that, Terry was committed to our students and faculty and recognized what a special place Hamden Hall was and continues to be. I am very fortunate to have worked with him for so many years and honored to have called him a close friend.”


Terry and his wife, Sheila, who passed in 2016, had three children: Lisa, Class of 1981, daughter Leslie, and son Kevin, who attended Hamden Hall for 11 years. Kevin and his wife, Karen, a former history teacher and coach at Hamden Hall, also enrolled their two children, Maya and Alexa, in the Lower School for several years – thus allowing Terry to experience events on campus as a grandfather.
 
In 1982, Terry made a significant leadership gift toward the establishment of a new centerpiece for the campus: a beautifully designed state-of-the-art library. The library was named in honor of Charles and Ellen Swain, Terry’s parents. “My parents, who were living at the time of the groundbreaking, loved children and I thought the gift was a meaningful way to honor them,” said Terry.
 
The Hamden Hall Community offers its condolences to the entire Swain family.

To read full obituary, please click here.
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Hamden Hall Country Day School is a nurturing and inclusive community with a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence by understanding each child and fostering their individual growth.