Clifton Bradley Swetnam
July 22, 1947 – Dec. 14, 2013

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Cliff Swetnam passed away Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at the age of 66 after a long illness. He was at peace in his passing.

He was born Clifton Bradley Swetnam on July 22, 1947, in Richmond, Calif.

Cliff’s lifelong dream was to be a policeman. To this end, he joined the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department in 1970. Cliff was with the ACSO for 28 and a half years, retiring in 1999.

He then went to work with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and was a welcome presence at the Lake County Courthouse, where he retired after 10 and a half years.

Cliff married his first wife in 1969 and had two beautiful daughters, Corinne Swetnam Wagner and Shannon Swetnam Woodward.

He then married his second wife, Joy Prichard Swetnam, in 1995.

Cliff first met Joy at a dance at the IDES hall in Hayward in 1966, but they lost contact with each other shortly thereafter. They met again in 1994 where it was “love at first sight – 28 years later.”

Cliff’s daughter, Shannon, is married to Kenneth Woodward; they have two children, Mason, 10, and Avery, 8. Cliff’s older daughter, Corinne, is married to Michael Wagner and has one daughter, Taylor, 15, who has been the light of Cliff’s life.

Cliff loved to travel and over the years he traveled to Sweden, Norway, Mexico, Canada, Tahiti and many other places.

For many years he fished the Tournament Bass Trails, where he won many awards and traveled to lakes all over the United States.

When he could no longer fish, he bought a travel trailer and, with Joy and his two dogs, camped all over California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. He was planning his next “camping” trip right up to the end of his life.

Another passion for Cliff was Lake County.

He was appointed to the Lake County Planning Commission in 2000 and served for 12 years.

He spent an enormous amount of time researching every issue that came before the commission, and felt the decisions he made were truly the best for Lake County.

Because of his hard work and dedication, he was awarded “Planning Commissioner of the Year” by the California County Planning Commissioner Association, a statewide organization, in 2008. He also served on their board of directors for several years.

In his later years, Cliff became a vocal anti-smoking advocate, speaking at smoking cessation classes offered by Lake Family Resource Center.

He would bring in all of his medications and drag his oxygen tank to the front of the room so everyone could see what smoking had done to him. He encouraged participants to ask questions and answered all with honesty and compassion. Many people have called him after his presentations to let him know that he was the reason they were able to quit smoking.

Family and friends were Cliff’s life blood. He had such a love of life and the adventures that awaited. Cliff was loved by all who knew him.

Cliff is survived by his wife, Joy; daughters, Corinne and Shannon; stepsons, Kenneth and Eric; grandchildren, Taylor, Mason and Avery.

He is also survived by his brothers, Greg Swetnam, Mark Prichard, Paul Prichard and Thom Prichard, and sister, Jeannette Prichard and their families. He also was close to his cousins and especially close to his nieces and nephew in Texas.

There will be a memorial service held on Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at 1 p.m., at Chapel of the Lakes, 1625 N. High St., Lakeport.

A gathering of friends and family will take place at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Cliff requested that people celebrate his life by wearing Hawaiian shirts to the service.

He also requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Lake Family Resource Center, 5350 Main Street, Kelseyville, CA 95451.