Joe Swan, former SJSU PJ professor dies at 78

I never had the pleasure of meeting him, be even then, he was part of the San Jose State University family. And a man who helped make the photojournalism program at SJSU what it is and was.

I probably would not be a SJSU grad today if he hadn't been there to continue the work started by PJ program and School of Journalism founder Dwight Bentel.

According to Mack Lundstrom, a current SJSU professor and good friend, "He died Sunday night. Joe taught Steve Starr, Kim Komenich and Doug Parker, who individually or leading a staff have won four Pulitzers."

He clearly left his mark.



The Spartan Daily, my old college paper stomping grounds, published two stories on Swan. A Feb 20 interview with Swan shortly after he decided to take himself off kidney dialysis, a decision that he made knowing it would mean death. A second story, published today, announces his death at home Sunday.

At the time he said, "I just try to look at what's ahead as maybe an adventure." And why not, from reading the article, it looks like living for an adventure is how he ran his life.