Kent Swanson OBITUARY

Kent L. Swanson passed away peacefully on March 1, 2024. He was 79 years old.

Born on December 5, 1944, in Cheyenne, WY, Kent was the first of Ruby and Lloyd Swanson’s three children. After his father died when Kent was seven, his mother later married Howard Wallace, who became a prominent father figure in Kent’s life. His childhood was spent boating and water skiing on the lakes of Minnesota, as well as fishing and hunting with Howard. He attended Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, MN, where he was a star of the varsity wrestling team, competing at the state level.

Kent graduated with distinction from the University of Minnesota with a degree in business, and received his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1969. With this education complete, he spent the next 32 years at Accenture. His innovative thinking, tireless globetrotting in support of his clients, and senior mentorship to countless colleagues helped set the partnership up for its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in 2001 and Kent for his retirement at the ripe old age of 57.

Despite his immense professional accomplishments, Kent’s most cherished role was that of devoted husband and father. He met Mary Jo (Jo), his wife of 50 years, as co-workers at Accenture (then Arthur Andersen) in 1969. They married in 1974, and four years later, the firm transferred him to Melbourne, Australia, where Jo gave birth to their first two children. They settled Stateside in Colorado in 1982, and went on to have two more children, raising their family in Cherry Hills Village in a house Kent designed and had built, and lived in until his death. While his demanding job took him around the world, there was no red-eye flight Kent wouldn’t endure to be back for every soccer game, school event, or weekend at home.

In his very active retirement, Kent served on the board of ALN Medical Management, MPC Computers, XTant Medical, HyperSpace Communications, and a number of other early stage ventures, as he couldn’t resist a new idea. He was also part-owner of a winery in Victoria, Australia (an undertaking that, combined with his lifetime achievement at Accenture, earned him the moniker “Chairman of the Bordeaux” among some of his kids’ friends). He was especially proud of his work as board chair for Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado, a residential scholarship program for disadvantaged and promising students.

He loved rainstorms, preferably accompanied by a good cigar; dining al fresco, no matter the season or wind chill; the Economist; Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups; sweeping views of the Sea of Cortez; off-roading in the Rocky Mountains; crossword puzzles; and sitting by the fire, particularly with his family beside him. And he loved good red wine, but really any wine if he had someone to share it with.

Kent stayed in the present, and savored the moment. He often turned to the person next to him and asked, “Isn’t this just wonderful?” He was frequently the first to laugh at his own jokes, but as the undisputed king of one-liners, certainly not the last. He was the best of storytellers. And, as long as you weren’t an airline ticketing or gate agent, those who were lucky enough to meet Kent will remember him for his warmth and curiosity in conversation, and his constant, quiet generosity.

He is survived by his loving wife and four children; Graham of Denver, CO; Tim (Fiorella) of Boulder, CO, and their children Adele, Fernando, and Santiago; Dan (Stacy) of Castle Pines, CO, and their children Ben and Zach; and Clare Ansel (Jon) of Rye, NY, and their children Sam, Will, Charlie, and Graham. His nine grandchildren will all miss their beloved Yampa very much. Kent also leaves behind his sister Lola Threinen (Ben) of Lake City, MN; his brother Dana Swanson (Karen) of Ham Lake, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A private celebration of life is being held later in the month. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado.