Maplewood Academy has lost a legend. It’s not enough to say that Evan Swanson worked at Maplewood—he poured his heart and soul into this school. To us, he wasn’t just a teacher; he was Maplewood. For 57 years, Swanee, as many of us affectionately called him, was the thread that bound generations of alumni together.
We all had Swanee as a teacher. And somehow, he remembered all of us—our names, our families, our hometowns. His mind was a steel trap, and his heart was even bigger. He made each of us feel special because he truly cared. He took an interest in our lives, believed in us, and loved us. That’s why he was everyone’s favorite teacher—not just because he was an incredible educator, but because he was ours.
Swanee wasn’t just dedicated; he was invested. He spent his Sundays opening up his classroom so we could work on sources, biology projects, or go on extra-credit bird-watching trips. He sat in his lawn chair at sports games and ASB events, cheering us on and soaking up every moment with his students. He made us laugh with his playful humor, his endless inside jokes, and the nicknames he made up for each of us.
When I returned to Maplewood after college, Swanee became my mentor, just as he had for so many staff members before me. He wasn’t just there for the students—he was there for all of us. Principals and teachers sought his wisdom. He wrote encouraging notes, checked in on us, and made Maplewood a place of warmth and belonging.
Swanee hated graduations because he never wanted to say goodbye to his kids. While the rest of us counted down the days to summer break, he was counting down the days until school started again. Even in the summer, he’d be in his classroom, prepping for another year, his husky by his side, the news playing softly in the background.
I’ve never met a more dedicated teacher. A more faithful servant. A man who so fully embodied the mission of Adventist education.
Maplewood isn’t the same without him.
But we can take comfort in knowing that the next thing Swanee will hear is God saying, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Laura Cummings is a Maplewood Academy alumni and is currently the registrar at Maplewood Academy.
