Longtime Cedar Knob PGA Golf Professional Jeff Swanson Dies At 55

SOMERS, CT — Jeff Swanson, the PGA golf professional at Cedar Knob Golf Course for 25 years, died unexpectedly of a heart attack Saturday at age 55. His daughter Sarah announced his passing on social media.

A Cromwell native whose first golf job was at the old Edgewood Country Club (now the TPC River Highlands, home of the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship), Swanson earned his PGA certification while working at Rockledge Golf Course in West Hartford. After several winters working at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, he came to Cedar Knob in 1995, quickly establishing himself as a player-friendly pro.

He created "Cedar Knob's Golf For Kids" a summer camp for junior golfers, where he worked closely with young players on all aspects of the game. He was also devoted to the men's and women's clubs at the course, as well as an enthusiastic supporter of various leagues there.

Carl and Tanya Cox own the Cedar Knob Restaurant; Carl Cox had just spent time with Swanson last Wednesday.

"He was such a genuine person with the biggest heart," Tanya Cox told Patch. "He treated everyone like he had known them forever. He was always happy and had a great sense of humor. When we had to work through the windows at the restaurant and he had to through the pro shop, we always joked around and he would get out the megaphone. I am going to miss so much about him. Our morning coffee talks. There is much. He always took care of my father when he came into town. He loved talking hockey stories with my dad. He always looked out for everyone."

Mike Sweeney of Tolland was a close friend of Swanson for more than 30 years.

"We've been to many concerts, played many golf outings, shared a few pints, you name it," Sweeney said. "He was a wonderful person. In 30 years I've known him, I only saw him mad once. He had an uncanny ability to diffuse situations, whether professional or personal. This is a unique attribute as a human. At all costs, he was a family man first."

Mark Zirolli, a Cedar Knob regular for many years, said, "I had the pleasure to know Jeff for many years as the pro at Cedar Knob. He was always the same guy - smiling, friendly and not afraid to bust chops a little bit. He treated me and my friends very well. I am shocked and saddened by what happened. He won't be easy to replace."

"I'm so going to miss Jeff," Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Karen Golden said. "Great guy. He made me the golfer I am today with the best lesson years ago. I fell in love with the game and will be forever grateful to have met Jeff. Playing at Cedar Knob will not be the same without Jeff. Always was fun to see him and talk golf and family."

Formr Fermi High School golf coach Carmen Nuccio said, "I worked with Jeff for almost 20 years at the Golf Kids Camp during the summers. As he bounced around from group to group, you could see the joy he had for golf, kids, friends, family and life. He made personal connections with all the young golfers and impressed them with not only his fun trick shots, but his jokes, antics and stunts. With all the kids watching on the putting green, leave it to Jeff to find the smallest, pink, left-handed putter and then dazzle them by draining a 20-foot putt, ending with 40 kids cheering at the top of their lungs. Then he follows that up later on the driving range by making a snowman with two golf balls, hitting the bottom ball, up pops the top ball and he dazzled the kids again with him catching it in his pocket. He always had a zest for life, and it certainly showed."

"Jeff and I exchanged a lot of emails and phone calls over the past year, mostly related to COVID and the rules surrounding golf during the pandemic," Connecticut State Golf Association executive director Mike Moraghan said. "He was always a pleasure to work with, a very good guy who was dedicated to doing the right thing and serving the golfers who played his course. He was well respected and well liked by everyone on our staff. A sad and tragic loss for everyone."

Tom Hantke, executive director of the Connecticut Section PGA, said, "It's been tragic and shocking to learn of Jeff's passing. He was the first PGA professional in Connecticut that I met when traveling from Maryland to interview in 1993 for the position I currently hold. He then two years later helped me move from West Hartford to my home in South Glastonbury. He just seemed to be that guy who was always willing to help and contribute. Tributes and condolences are pouring into our office from golf professionals throughout the section. Every year he raised money for the PGA Foundation through the Cedar Knob's club members, supporting youth and military veteran golf initiatives. Recently he had been serving on the PGA's Tournament Committee, being that voice of calm and reasoning. On behalf of all the members of the Connecticut Section, I offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and peers for the loss of one so special."

Swanson is survived by his wife Ann; daughters Sarah and Megan; his father, Donald Swanson Sr.; and a brother and sister.

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 26 at noon in St. Matthew's Church in Tolland, by invitation only. Others are welcome to join the Mass virtually at blessedsacramentct.org/funeral. A private burial will take place in Vermont.

Swanson's complete obituary from Pietras Family Funeral Homes may be found here.

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