Leo Patrick Swatloski

Leo Patrick Swatloski, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, uncle, great-uncle and brother passed away peacefully at home in Woodbridge, Virginia, on July 23, 2026, at the age of 92, to be with our Lord. Leo was born on February 13, 1934, in Houston, Texas, to Stanislaw ("Stash") Swatloski (Polish spelling: Swiatkowski) and Pelagia ("Pearl") Szczepanski Swatloski. He was the ninth of fourteen children—seven boys and seven girls. Leo is survived by his four children, Thomas (Tom), David, Teresa, and Christopher (Chris); six grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two sisters, Rita and Eva; and dozens of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Virginia ("Ginger"), and his parents and siblings who went before him. Leo proudly served his country as a Major in the United States Air Force. Beginning in the mid-1950s, he flew the T-28, T-33, T-39, L-20A, F-100, and ultimately the Republic F-105 Thunderchief, affectionately known by its pilots as the "Thud," where he accumulated most of his flying hours. Throughout his Air Force career, Leo and Ginger were stationed throughout Texas, Arizona, Germany, and Japan. He served in Vietnam and Korea and participated in numerous deployments throughout Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Later, as a staff officer, he supported negotiations involving U.S. military personnel during the USS Pueblo crisis. Following his military retirement, Leo began a second career with Motorola and Sperry in the Phoenix area. At Motorola, one of his assignments included building electronic systems for the Space Shuttle program. Combining electronics, radios, and problem-solving made him a dream job. After retiring a second time, Leo and Ginger made their home on more than twenty acres of rolling grassland near Sonoita, Arizona, where they lived for nearly forty years. It was his sanctuary on earth. A lifelong amateur (ham) radio operator, Leo held the call sign W7JPI (formerly K7EMA and W5YOJ). His hobby became a lifelong service to others. He established emergency amateur radio communications for the Santa Rita Abbey, a Cistercian monastery, providing a dependable means of communication when telephone lines frequently failed. He had great affection for the sisters at the Abbey. Leo also served as a volunteer firefighter in Sonoita for more than twenty years and became deeply involved in Santa Cruz County emergency services and emergency communications. Drawing upon both his aviation experience and technical expertise, he frequently coordinated MEDEVAC helicopter operations, directing flight crews to accident scenes and securing landing zones for safe evacuations. He also designed, built, and maintained a good portion of the county's emergency communications network, radios again. His commitment to public service extended well beyond Arizona. Following the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, Leo provided emergency communications support and received federal recognition for his service. In 1985, after the devastating Mexico City earthquake, he again volunteered his expertise, providing communications support between the United States and Mexico and receiving recognition from both governments. Leo was a devoted Roman Catholic. Educated at a Catholic boarding high school, he prayerfully discerned that he was not called to become a religious brother, but he remained steadfast in his faith throughout his life. Shortly before his passing, he received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. He returned home, where he passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family. Leo will be interred at the Southern Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Family and friends will be notified of the date and time and are welcome to attend a simple graveside service and perhaps a meal at a local restaurant. In lieu of flowers, if you choose make a contribution to your favorite charity. Leo's life was defined by faith, family, service, and a quiet willingness to help others whenever he was needed. Whether in the cockpit of a fighter aircraft, behind a radio, responding to an emergency, or simply enjoying the Arizona prairie he loved so dearly, he lived a life of duty, humility, and generosity. His legacy will continue through the family he cherished and the countless lives he touched. Always kind to strangers and polite beyond imagining, quiet, private and reserved.

Tributes

Leo Patrick Swatloski

February 13, 1934 - July 23, 2026