William W. Swift Jr.

William "Billy" Swift, Jr., "Swifty," 72, of Sea Cliff, NY, passed away on May 25, 2021, in Roslyn, NY.
Billy was raised in Glenwood Landing, NY, by William and Mary Swift. He worked as a Fire District Mechanic for Syosset Fire Department for most of his career. As a 54-year life member of the Glenwood Fire Company, he dedicated his life to the fire services, most notably serving as two-time ex-Chief of the Glenwood Fire Company, several terms as past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Glenwood Fire Company, past Chairman of the Nassau County Fire Commission, past Chairman of the Fifth Battalion district, and past president of the Fifth Battalion Chiefs Association, among countless other positions of leadership and service. He is fondly remembered as having the biggest heart of gold, as one-of-a-kind, as a truly great guy, as a dedicated fixture in the fire service, and as someone you would be proud to call a friend. Billy is survived by his wife and best friend, Sally Swift, of Sea Cliff, NY. He is also remembered as beloved brother of Jack Swift, and Cathy (Michael) Murray, cherished father of Michael (Malerie) Swift and Melissa (Shylough) Feliciano, caring stepfather of Bobby (Courtney) Citko and devoted grandfather of Logan, Marcello, Mikey, Hayden, Bella, Emma, Madilyn and Reagan, along with many loving nieces and nephews and countless loyal friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, William Swift, Sr., and Mary (Lamberson) Swift. It was a long-standing family joke that Grandpa Billy was better known than the mayor, and the grandkids would laugh that everywhere he went there would be friendly faces coming by to shoot the breeze with him. On behalf of Sally, Jack, Catherine, Michael, Michael, Malerie, Melissa, Shylough, Bobby, Courtney and all of Billy's treasured grandchildren, we wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to each and every person who has touched Billy's life over the years for your outpouring of love and support during these times of grief. To the Glenwood Fire Company and its members, the surrounding departments making up the 5th Battalion Fire District, the departments across the Nassau County Fire District, and those fire departments from even further away, your unwavering support of our family, not just today but always, has profoundly touched our hearts.
Donations may be made to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), www.JDRF.org, or Glenwood Fire Department, P.O. Box 403, Glenwood Landing, NY 11547. Visiting Wednesday, June 2, and Thursday, June 3, 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Glenwood Fire Company Station 2, 196 Glen Head Road, Glen Head, NY 11545. Mass Friday, June 4, 10 AM at St. Boniface Martyr Church, Sea Cliff, NY. Private interment. Further information at Whitting Funeral Home, Glen Head, NY.