Memories

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To the Entire Swanson Family,

Thank you for sharing Kyle with all of us. I was a classmate of his at St. X and wouldn’t be the man I am today without having grown in the community we were both so blessed to be a part of. Kyle was as big of a contributor to that amazing environment as anyone. When I remember all the classes, friends, and time we shared together, there are a few qualities I learned from him that have stuck with me most: Compassion, Communication, and Comedy. Kyle was one of the first guys I met freshman year and was an immediate reminder that I chose the right school with the right values. He was quickly an academic leader that helped all of us equally, he didn’t care if he knew you or not, he always had an answer, tip, or trick to share. He was never “too cool” to talk to anyone and I have learned to give absolutely everyone in my life, time and respect and my undivided attention.

Now his communication and comedy, as you well know, were a terrific one-two punch. Kyle was the best of all of our friends at befriending our teachers. He taught me the delicate art of sarcasm (although I never achieved his level of mastery, since I still got smacked here and there). But in all seriousness, I am only who I am today because of the skills and qualities that Kyle helped me discover and refine. He touched so many lives and I wish so many more would’ve had the opportunity. He will be remembered as one amazing friend, a caring individual, and dammit just a hysterical SOB. Again, I wanted to thank you so so much for sharing your blessing and gift of a son with all of us.

Our family shares these tokens as a small reminder of those we have lost and I wanted to give one to you both. They have an uncanny way of popping up when I’m remembering and thinking about loved ones I’ve lost, whether it’s in my car on a beautiful sunset drive, or in my travel bag for work on the road. I hope this can bring you some of the comfort it has brought me.

Thank you for Kyle,

Stephen Creevy X’12

Kyle was the best classmate, teammate, personal sounding board, happy hour buddy, professional colleague, and fellow Cincinnati sports analyst I've ever met. He was more than a friend, he was family to me. Kyle loved his family, his friends, the Reds, the Bengals, Skyline Chili, and Jimmy Buffet. He was constantly striving for excellence in everything he did. He was fiercely loyal to the people and things that he loved. He was the kind of person that always knew what to say when you needed advice, knew how to listen when you needed to vent, and knew how to crack a joke when you needed to smile. Kyle made the world a better place.

Stephenson S.
Kyle had many amazing traits about him. Three in particular that stand out to me were his affability, determination, and loyalty. Affability- Kyle was one of the easiest guys to talk too. Whether it was a stranger or a long-time friend, he had the ability to connect with that person. Determination- Whether it was in the swimming pool, his studies at a top business school, or his career, Kyle always set challenging goals for himself. He would never waver in trying to achieve those goals. He gave 100% effort in all areas of life. Loyalty- Kyle was a loyal son, brother, and friend. No matter what, he could be counted to be by someone’s side in their time of need.

Nick H.
Kyle was an incredibly kind person. He never met a stranger, heck I never remember him really disliking anyone. He had an amazing dry sense of humor. Anyone that knew him, had an inside joke to share with him. His jokes still pop into my head every day. He was as loyal to his friends and family as he was to the Reds and Bengals. He was always up for trying new things or exploring the city on a nice day. He lived in the moment when he was with the people he loved. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could call Kyle to plan our next buddy’s trip, sporting event, or holiday get together. I know he’s looking down on all of us and protecting us, because I know he truly cared about us.

Tommy S.
Kyle was a friend to almost anybody. He was a natural at bringing different friend groups together. It was almost like it was God’s plan for him on earth. He impacted so many people in the 28 years on earth and let me tell you a little bit more. Kyle was a loyal, smart, and caring friend. His unique sense of humor is what I enjoyed most. He wasn’t afraid to voice his opinions but was careful in the manner in which he did. A sports enthusiast as well, there was never a dull moment and something to talk about in great depth. Kyle knew plenty of facts about his Cincinnati sports’ teams (plenty more than the average joe) and he was damn proud of his roots. Kyle understood the importance of spending quality time with family and friends. He went out of his way to reach out and invite friends over whenever he was in town. He was good at the simple things, the things we often take for granted. Kyle genuinely took interest in all of his friends and wanted to know how you were doing. Kyle was truly one of a kind and will be missed dearly. I think about Kyle every day. We love Kyle, his memories, and name will never be forgotten.

Hayden H.
It’s so hard to pick one memory of my brother Kyle but my favorite was our first annual boys’ trip with Dad. We started our adventure at The Waste Management in Phoenix. We flew in on the opening round and sat on the patio watching golf and eating mostly bad chicken wings. Dad and I kept trying to set Kyle up with our hot server. The next day we arrived at the golf tournament and Kyle wore his #7 Boomer Esiason jersey. That jersey prompted more conversations about the Bengals, Cincinnati, golf, etc. than I ever could have imagined and the three of us had a ball just hanging out, watching golf, and meeting a bunch of random people. Of course, that wasn’t all – the next day we flew to Vegas to watch the Super Bowl! Our Sunday viewing spot for the big game wasn’t ideal as most “prime” spots required exorbitant deposits or minimum spending on food and drink. So, Kyle, being as stubborn as he was, went off to find us a better spot. About 45 minutes later, after I thought he was lost, he called and said “get over to the Venetian Sportsbook. I got us a table right in the middle!” The next 4 hours were when I felt as close to Kyle as I ever have. And even though the outcome wasn’t what we wanted; I’ll never forget that day as long as I live. I love Kyle and miss him terribly.

Jason S.
As Kyle’s roommate and fraternity brother in college it was clear from the beginning that he was a friend to anyone and everyone, whether it was someone he had just met, one of his “buddies from home” that he seamlessly folded into our group, or someone he had met once through a friend of a friend of a friend etc. During his last few months with us, he took me under his wing during the Bengals 2022 playoff run. He brought me to every viewing party and introduced me to all his fellow Bengals fans, many of whom I didn’t yet know, but there was no one better than Kyle at making you feel comfortable among strangers. My last text from Kyle said “Have a good time bro”... Kyle was all about having a good time with the people he loved, and I still cherish his friendship.

Joe B.
Kyle was a friend in the truest sense of the word. When I reflect on my 8 years of friendship with Kyle I am drawn to the little moments that made life with Kyle so special. While Kyle and I were fortunate enough to enjoy a number of fun big trips and events together, I gravitate towards the memories we made while just being in each other's company. Whether it was binge watching The Office, manufacturing a sports debate (there were many...), or grabbing a bite to eat in Bloomington, Chicago, or NYC, being in Kyle's presence elicited a sense of comfort, humor, and camaraderie. I am honored to be a member of the KLSF Board and have the opportunity to preserve the legacy of one of my best friends.

Bobby S.
Kyle was one of my closest friends from IU and a core part of our tight-knit friend group. Looking back on our friendship, we shared so many great memories — from our time in Bloomington to later years in Chicago and on our annual trips to stay connected in cities like Nashville, New Orleans, New Buffalo, Hilton Head...and even a return to Bloomington during his master’s program. Kyle was fiercely devoted to the people he cared about, and you could always feel it. It has been a privilege to play a small role in honoring his legacy, and remarkable to see the outsized impact the KSLF has had on so many worthy causes that he was passionate about.

Eric B.