Sam Swart Obituary, Death – To everyone in the PWSC community: The departure of our much valued member of the team, Sam Foist-Swart, has left us in indescribable mourning.
Sam was the person in charge of resident life and housing at PWSC, and she played an extremely important role in our community in a variety of ways. She frequently went above and beyond the requirements of her position in order to assist both students and staff members at the college. She devoted a significant portion of her life to helping others and served as a driving force behind a wide variety of volunteer and civic endeavors that were to the broader Valdez community’s advantage.
She contributed both her time and her skills as a volunteer to local charitable organizations such as the Sound Wellness Alliance Network, the Valdez Food Bank, and Advocates for Victims of Violence. Sam believed that the objective of delivering higher education across the state was essential to making Alaska a better place to live, and he worked relentlessly to advance the goals of both the university and the PWSC. The death of Sam has left a profound mark on all of us. The news of her loss has spread beyond the confines of both our city and university, and we will never forget her bright attitude and optimistic energy.
We shall persist through this difficult time in Sam’s honor by gathering together, mourning, conversing, and recalling the positive impact Sam had on us. In doing so, we will honor her memory.
We would be honored if you could join us in commemorating her life on Wednesday, November 16 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Kelsey Dock. We ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to either The Trevor Project, which works to prevent suicide among LGBTQ+ people, or Advocates for Victims of Violence in Valdez, both of which were organizations that were very close to her heart and shared many of her ideals.
