Resident of Los Gatos

Herbert Carl Swanson, Jr., was born in Modesto, California on January 3, 1946, the second of three children born to Herbert and Margaret Swanson. The family moved to Sunnyvale when Herb was 4 years old and later to San Jose. Herb’s family lived on a ranch in east San Jose, where the family kept a variety of animals, including horses, ponies, burros and goats. Herb graduated from Overfelt High School, winning numerous awards for academic achievement. For several years he helped his parents run the pony ride at the old San Jose Flea Market on Berryessa Road, where many San Jose children enjoyed their first horseback ride. Later he took on a similar role at Frontier Village in San Jose where he worked on the burro pack train and helped guests on and off the stagecoach ride.

Herb started college at San Jose State University and completed two years before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He received training as a radar operator and served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. After his discharge, he completed his final two years at San Jose State University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.

Herb met Marlene (Mandich) Swanson in 1972. The couple wed in 1976, and were married for 48 years, settling in Los Gatos, CA with their two children, Carl and Kristen.

Early in his career, Herb worked as a chemist at Robinson Labs in San Francisco for three years. He wanted more of achallenge but found only ahandful of jobs in newspaper listings under “Chemistry.” However, just one column over, he noticed the “Computer” section was brimming with jobs. This prompted Herb to immediately enroll in computer classes at Laney College in Oakland, CA, a decision which led to a new career.

Herb had a fulfilling career in the burgeoning computer industry, starting with FibreBoard in San Francisco, Measurex in Cupertino, CA, a small startup called TradePlus from 1984-1986, and LSI Logic. He returned to TradePlus in 1993, which became E-Trade, where he managed rapidly expanding computer and trading systems as the company went public, retiring in 1999.

Herb enjoyed teaching himself how to make sourdough bread, including making bread for family, neighbors, and for the St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, Saratoga, CA. From his schooling, work, and in his personal life, Herb was scientific and focused on details. He approached teaching himself how to make sourdough bread using the scientific method, reviewing each step and changing one variable at atime to improve on each loaf. His bread was legendary and bakery quality.

Herb loved animals his entire life, from growing up on his family’s ranch to his time spent with his three black labs: Stuart, Max, and Rex. He loved his daily morning dog walk through his Los Gatos neighborhood. He also ran in several Big Sur marathons and enjoyed road cycling.

Herb loved family vacations, especially to the Southwest, packing up the car, camping, and visiting national parks, including Yosemite, Zion, and the Grand Canyon.

He loved the open road. He also enjoyed traveling abroad, including to France, England, Italy, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Serbia, Montenegro, Soviet Union, Japan, and Costa Rica.

Herb was full of life. He loved his family, and shared stories from his childhood through adulthood. There was always a life lesson with each story.

He passed peacefully at home on Saturday, January 11.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert Carl Swanson, Sr. and Margaret Swanson, and his wife Marlene Mandich Swanson. Herb is survived by son Carl (Salma) Swanson of Los Gatos, CA; daughter Kristen (Paul) Davidson of Austin, TX; grandson Hamza Swanson of Los Gatos, CA; sisters Carol Heffernan of Marietta, GA and Joyce (Robert) Hall of San Jose, CA; nephew Mark Heffernan of Lawrenceville, GA; nieces Julie Heffernan and Kerry (Tom) Moore, both of Marietta, GA, Janis Hall of South Lake Tahoe, CA, and Jessica Hall of Fresno, CA; and great nephew Adam Moore of Marietta, GA.

Services will be held at Alameda Family Funeral &Cremation, 12341 Saratoga Sunnyvale Rd., Saratoga, CA, 95070 on Wednesday, January 22 at 10:30 a.m. Burial Service will follow at Los Gatos Memorial Park, 2255 Los Gatos Almaden Rd., San Jose, CA 95124. The family suggests memorial donations be sent to the SPCA.