Heroes from Home: Judy Swiger, “A trailblazer, a mentor, a visionary, an advocate and voice for many”

*photos taken from Linda Meachum’s Facebook Feed

By FRED KRONER

fred@mahometnews.com

It’s not often that a large group of people will universally agree on any topic. There are usually dissenters.

When the name Judy Swiger is mentioned to former Mahomet-Seymour students or faculty members, however, there is unanimous support about the impact she made in the school district and the community.

“She was a superstar in my book,” said Micki Bunting, a 1985 M-S graduate. “She was a mover and shaker.”

Shauna Gough, a former M-S student (Class of ’84) and teacher, expressed similar sentiments.

“She was such a loving and tender person,” Gough said, “but she could be sarcastic and witty.

“She made sure everybody was welcomed and supported. I knew as a teen that everybody belonged. You knew you had a place.”

Brian Herriott (Class of ’87) said simply, “she was larger than life.”

Linda Meacham retired as a fifth-grade M-S teacher in 2011. She couldn’t help but see how Swiger affected those involved in the district’s drama department.

“She touched thousands of lives,” Meacham said, “and really will be remembered as someone who went the extra mile.”

Former Centennial High School drama instructor Sue Aldridge was also one of Swiger’s fans.

“A trailblazer, a mentor, a visionary, an advocate and voice for many, a teacher, a leader and most of all a friend, sister, mother and grandmother. That was Judy,” Aldridge said.

The tributes for Swiger flowed in on Tuesday, hours after she passed away in the morning following complications from open heart surgery.

A native of Thornwood, Swiger taught in the Mahomet-Seymour district for 34 years, arriving in the fall of 1973 and retiring in the spring of 2007. At different times, she taught English, speech and drama. She also served as the chair of the theatre program.

“Our worlds were different,” said Jim Risley, a retired M-S educator. “Hers was arts and mine was athletics, but we both worked hard to make kids’ experiences meaningful.

“I would enjoy occasional times talking with her in the teachers’ lounge.”

When Risley was forming the committee that would serve as the selectors for those to be enshrined in the Mahomet Education Foundation Hall of Fame, Swiger was one of the first people he asked to serve.

“She was very passionate, and you get drawn to people who are that way, and want to talk to people like that,” Risley said. “I loved to listen to her excitement about working with the kids.”

For those immersed in the drama program at M-S, the reasons for Swiger’s influence are obvious.

“She was my teacher my freshman year, I was on speech teams and in theater programs,” Gough said. “I spent more time with Judy in high school than my own parents. She was like a second mother to me and a lot of others feel that way, too.

“Without a doubt, 100 percent, she influenced what I did.”

Gough retired from the M-S faculty in 2019 after 25 years in the English department.

Two of Swiger’s former pupils, Herriott and Melanie Moore Paxson (Class of 1990) became charter members of the M-S Hall of Fame in 2017.

***

Herriott was introduced to Swiger as a grade school student.

“My first memories of Judy were from probably the early ‘80s,” Herriott said. “I loved seeing the high school musicals, plays and variety shows. For a kid, she had this aura of both anxiety and panache.

“She was almost as fun to watch as the productions on stage.”

As a high schooler, Herriott became a part of those productions. The role models were the ones he’d grown up watching as they performed.

“You’re always a bit star-struck with your childhood idols, and for me growing up, those were the theatre kids,” Herriott said. “Carolyn Opolka, Robert Page, Ron Brown, Anne Jennings, Greg Williams, Keith Campbell and so on.

“And Judy was their leader. I really never believed I would do theatre for a living while growing up. But some of my best friends were those that I did the musicals with. I loved it.”

For 20 years, Herriott performed professionally, landing lead roles in Broadway productions, though he started with the inevitable hardships as he tried to get established. With Swiger, he always had a supporter in his corner.

“When I left high school, Judy always stayed in touch, and I would always try to visit her room when I’d return home,” Herriott said. “The first five years of my theatre career were busy, but I was struggling to find a place and never made enough money to quit my other jobs.

“After getting stuck with a $1,000 phone bill from my roommates, I said, ‘Screw it!’ and headed home to Mahomet. I was done. Or, so I thought. There were many sleepless nights as I tried to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.”

Swiger helped change his attitude and his direction in life.

“I had a few visits with Judy during that time and I ended up deciding to finish my degree in theatre education,” Herriott said. “She helped me settle on Illinois State University, where I started back to school in ‘92.

“After classes at ISU, I would drive back to Mahomet every day as I helped coach the M-S HS football team. My thinking was that perhaps I would take over for Judy when she retired, and also help coach football.”

Herriott said Swiger didn’t discourage this dream, but added: “I’m not sure she was ever 100 percent behind that idea, but she faked it well. I soon, however, changed my major back to acting, where I belonged.

“I would have been a horrible teacher. Did Judy know that?”

Herriott had the pleasure to serve as the emcee with Jenny Carpenter (Forshey) when Swiger retired 13 years ago.

“We sang songs from her favorite shows, and were joined by many other Mahomet celebrities,” Herriott said. “That was also one of the last times I saw her.

“She would sometimes chat with me on social media and we had plans to someday have lunch, one of these days.

“My memories of her are happy ones. She shaped me. Helped me. Changed me. What a lucky guy I am to have known Judy Swiger.”

As was typical, Swiger supported her former students long after they had graduated. She joined other friends and colleagues in traveling across the state or throughout the Midwest to watch productions featuring former M-S students.

“I never attended as many theatrical things as I did after I retired (in 2011),” said Joan Jordan, a former fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln Trail Elementary School. “We went to the Beef House (in Covington, Ind.), Parkland, CUTC, Sullivan (Little Theatre on the Square).

“She was committed to what she believed in and showed her support by being there.”

Herriott said he was never surprised to see Swiger and friends in the audience.

“She saw many of my productions and I would always try to visit with her and other friends either before or after the show,” Herriott said. “She had great fun hearing about all of my theatre adventures and stories.”

One particular appearance was memorable because Swiger’s traveling companions that day included Herriott’s brother Brad and his parents, Bill and Barbara.

“One trip to Indiana, where I was doing summer stock in an old barn with no air conditioning, I think it was to see one of her favorite shows (Godspell) and I was playing Jesus,” Brian Herriott said. “Well, the first half of the drive went well, telling jokes, sharing stories. They had agreed to stop for lunch halfway, in Kankakee.

“At lunch, they were enjoying their meal and talking with the waitress about where they were headed. The waitress then said, ‘Well, you better hurry if you wanna make it.’ After some confusion, they suddenly figured out that Indiana was an hour later than them, and instead of being a half-hour early, they were now going to be a half-hour late.

“The rest of the drive was quite silent, from what I hear. We loved telling that story again and again, and always laughed.”

Retired M-S elementary teacher Meacham said watching former students perform was not an occasional venture for Swiger, but an occurrence that took place whenever possible.

“She took pride in her students, and in watching them grow and succeed,” Meacham said.

 ***

Joel Shoemaker is another M-S graduate who has a memory about a time Swiger was in the audience at one of his performances.

“I was a nun,” Shoemaker said. “Or, rather I was playing a nun. In a barn. This was the Barn II Dinner Theatre, in Goodfield.

“This was Nunsense: Amen. They had a larger advertising reach, I guess, because it advertised in Champaign. Anyway, what matters is that we played church bingo beforehand. I was Sister Leo and I was wandering around and all of the sudden I hear, ’Well, hello Sister Leo.’

“It was Mrs. Swiger, Mrs. (Eileen) Bunting, Mrs. (Linda) Meacham and Mrs. (Joan) Jordan. I was in shock, especially because that habit was awful, you know, and THIS was what I was donning to reunite with my distinguished teachers. After the show, Mrs. Swiger said to let her know what I’m doing because they were retired now and this is what they do and, from then on, some combination of that group would show up at almost every show I was in.

“Also, she said I needed to call her Judy now.”

Shoemaker, who is now the library director for the Illinois Prairie District Public Library, never brought himself to refer to Swiger in that manner.

His respect for Swiger started when he was a high school freshman and grew thereafter. Shoemaker shared his feelings Tuesday on a Facebook post.

“I walked into high school not really knowing who I was. Who I would become. Or, importantly, who I wanted to become. High school in Mahomet was very, very good to me. I know many have or had negative experiences, but I just wasn’t among them. It was a very supportive environment and that’s probably because of where I chose to spend my time.

“I knew nothing about theatre. I had a few years of experience as a magician, but I didn’t know what a play or musical was. Memory fails why I decided to show up for the first play audition but, whatever the reason, as soon as I learned it was Shakespeare, I chickened out, but the sponsor invited me to participate on the crew in some way, so I decided to help with the program. I sold ads and wrote bios. I compiled information and laid it all out with this RIDICULOUSLY thin black tape and then we hand-copied each page.

“She showed me how to do all of this and then she marked it all up with a purple pen. Over and over. Copy after copy. If I may be really honest, she was BRUTAL with that pen. Purple. Everywhere.

“I would go on to be with that woman until the print deadline for every single program. For four years. I would sell ads. I would write bios. I would tape and hand-copy. Until it was perfect. Until midnight or later on school nights if it were necessary. Heaven knows why my parents allowed it.

“I love that purple pen and I will always remember it. After all, I really think it helped make me who I am today. RIP Judy Swiger. This is a devastating loss.”

***

Micki Bunting is another of the former M-S students whose career path was influenced by Swiger.

“I was a professional actress (for nine years) before I realized I loved working with young people and I went on to become a teacher,” said Bunting, who is in her 13^th year at Glenbard East, near Chicago, where she has taught English, speech and theater in addition to directing after-school plays and doing hair and makeup for main-stage productions.

“Judy started my love of theatre,” Bunting said. “She took us all over the place, Krannert, Union Station (in Chicago) and let a young girl experience how wonderful theatre was.

“She had connections all over the state and instilled so much love of theatre in my life. When I got into teaching, I’d call her. She was my mentor.”

Bunting doesn’t regret the time she devoted to her own career at the Northwood Theatre.

“I’m proud to have made part of my living from the theatre,” Bunting said. “That love started on a small theatre stage (in Mahomet). Judy had an awesome love of theatre and impacted so many people.”

***

Carol Allen, who worked with Swiger for 26 years in the drama department at M-S, said one word comes to mind when thinking of her former colleague.

“Inclusive,” Allen said.

“She developed a philosophy that we’re an educational institution and everyone had equal shares to give,” said Allen, who retired in 2015. “When they tried out, she would try to find their niche.

“If a child was disabled, it didn’t matter. If they didn’t know how to do something technically, she would teach them. She didn’t turn anybody away.”

As a result, the program flourished.

“We started double-casting,” Allen said. “It wasn’t unusual in the fall play to have over 70 kids and with technicals, over 100. For the (spring) musical, on-stage and behind the scenes, there’d be 130 to 150.

“I felt privileged to work beside her. She was an encourager for people to grow. I learned who I was.”

Micki Bunting said Swiger’s welcoming nature remains one of her big takeaways from her time as a student at M-S.

“It wasn’t about creating stars,” she said. “It was creating mini opportunities for kids to love theatre.

“She included kids of all capabilities. She gave everybody a home, including kids who were struggling to find their way in the world.”

***

Swiger’s reach extended well beyond the walls of the buildings in the Mahomet-Seymour district. She was renowned and respected at the state level.

Centennial’s Sue Aldridge remembers when Swiger reached one of the highest statewide pinnacles possible.

“In January of 1999, it was announced that Judy was to be the executive director of the Illinois High School Theatre Festival for 2001,” Aldridge said. “She called me and asked me to meet her for lunch.

“It was that fateful lunch that she asked if I would direct the All-State production. I didn’t think twice. I was honored that she had the confidence in me to tackle such a daunting task.

“She was nothing but supportive. She helped me narrow down my choices of shows, and applauded my choice of West Side Story. It was the fact that she believed in my ability that was the most rewarding and gratifying.”

Swiger initially reached out to Aldridge when she was hired at Centennial in 1990.

“I first met Judy when I joined the ‘club’ of drama directors in the area,” Aldridge said. “I was new to the high school drama teaching/directing club as I had just been hired, but Judy was one of the first to offer assistance.

“Through her, I was introduced and began friendships with John Tilford (Tolono Unity), Larry Williams (St. Joseph-Ogden), Greg Chew (Urbana) and later LaDonna Wilson (Champaign Central) and Susan Cortesi (Bloomington).

“We didn’t see each other much as we were always in production for one show or another, but we were always there helping one another, being the sounding board, loaning each other costumes, props, scripts, set pieces; anything that we might need for our own programs.”

Swiger played an integral role.

“Judy was the one who held us all together,” Aldridge said. “She’d been around teaching in the high school theatre world longest.

“She made teaching theatre in downstate Illinois an important part of the curriculum for schools. She fought the battles. She made it so that the rest of us had it easy.”

Really impressive, Aldridge added, is that Swiger – the educator – was just as skilled as Swiger – the drama coach.

“Judy was an incredible teacher,” Aldridge said. “She knew English like no other.

“Her grading was legendary. She was tough but fair, demanding but straight-forward. She was able to inspire her students to become better writers, better thinkers, and most importantly, better people.”

***

Neither Meacham nor Jordan – both of whom were fifth-grade teachers – ever worked in the same building as Swiger, but that didn’t curtail their friendships.

“She was instrumental in having the fifth-graders come and see the musical every year,” Meacham said. “She said it was important they have exposure to drama before they got to junior high.”

One of Meacham’s students was Swiger’s son, Matt, and Meacham added, “several years later, he was my student teacher. He was like another son to me.”

Meacham, Jordan and Swiger also shared another common interest.

“We worked closely in the (teacher’s) union,” Meacham said. “We were involved in the (contract) negotiations and, for a while, she was the chief negotiator.”

***

Swiger’s son, Matt, followed his mom into the educational world, and is a teacher in Urbana.

“Judy was so supportive of her son,” Aldridge said. “She once told me that I needed to always make time for family, that the shows and our school family were important, but not as important as our real family.

“‘Always make time for your family and yourself,’ she said. ‘You’ll be a better teacher, better director and most importantly, a better mother.’ Her other words of wisdom – although she didn’t follow her own wisdom – was to not try and do everything for a show yourself.

“She said ask for help. Turn over a little of the responsibilities of a show. People want to help, let them.”

Though Micki Bunting acknowledged, “Judy was like a one-person theatre program, she lived at the theatre,” Swiger also had capable assistance, including Bunting’s mother, Eileen, who handled the costumes for years. Eileen Bunting retired in 2001.

“She and Eileen worked closely together,” Meacham added.

Aldridge said Swiger exhibited the traits that many found endearing.

“What always struck me the most about Judy was her genuine kindness,” Aldridge said, “and her ability to find humor in almost everything.

“Her laughter was contagious. Her smile would light up a room. She was always asking what she could do for us. She shared whatever she had.”

Even in retirement, as she traveled with Eileen Bunting, Meacham, Jordan – and others – Aldridge observed, “She missed the kids, but she had the time that she didn’t have all those years before. She showed all of us how to enjoy retirement, teaching us once again.

“Seeing shows, traveling and family became her joys.”

The travels included sojourns to Australia, Africa, Alaska, Arizona and other locales, Meacham said, categorizing them as “magnificent trips.”

Jordan said when the women would joke about continuing to travel “until we ran out of money or couldn’t walk anymore,” Swiger would bring them back to reality.

“She said you never know the time or place when God will call you,” Jordan said.

***

Teaching students was what Swiger did for a living, but her impact was felt by adults as well.

“Judy was my department head in the English department at the high school when I was hired about 18 years ago,” M-S English instructor Scott Cebulski said. “She was the most welcoming person I met that year.

“She seemed to feel a personal responsibility to each one of the people who worked in her department, and she had a talent for making us feel like a real team of coworkers. We all loved working with Judy, and I know most of her students loved her, too.  I have missed her sense of humor and her jovial personality.

“I missed her loyalty and her professionalism, too, when she retired. She taught me so much, and she left a lasting impression on the school’s English curriculum and drama department that can be seen and felt to this day.”

Swiger was only doing what she had been doing for years. In the fall of 1983, she took another young teacher under her wing.

“I was new on the job and she gave great advice,” said Jill Rinkel, now the retired M-S choral director. “She was very calm and had so much knowledge. We spent a lot of time together.

“She was one of the hardest workers I know and I learned a lot from her.”

Former M-S Spanish teacher Susan Arbuckle said Swiger was the epitome of what anyone would want in a co-worker or an acquaintance.

“Judy Swiger was a TEACHER, the most patient, the most kind, the most inclusive, the most observant, the most empathetic, the most persistent of us all,” Arbuckle said, “the best of all friends, personally and professionally.

“She was always ready for a lunch, a movie, a trip, a heart-to-heart talk. She laughed about the (cluttered) condition of the counter in her classroom, sent birthday cards, wanted to hug everybody.”

Risley said that Swiger exemplified the adage that turnabout is fair play.

“She appreciated the little things that people did for her, and as a result, she’d hand out acts of kindness,” Risley said.

“She went out of her way to help people,” Jordan added. “She was truly a very special woman.”

***

Those who knew and worked with Swiger, say that her memory will be cherished fondly.

“Her passing has been more than a shock,” Cebulski said. “It is a tangible loss for the community and the many lives she had touched and made better through her caring and wisdom.”

Added Aldridge: “There will truly be no one to fill the void she has left in so many people’s lives. She will be missed by all.”

“She was one of my best friends,” Meacham said. “I have a big hole.”