Carolyn Josephine Swall

Carolyn Josephine Swall, born Caroline Josephine Cataldo on November 6, 1925, in Detroit, Michigan, passed away peacefully on November 21 2024, in San Diego, California, with her daughter Michelle Cataldo-Swall, and Michelle’s spouse, Bard Adler, by her side.  She was beloved, and her inspiring example touched the lives of many.

Carolyn was born into harsh circumstances. Her parents, Lorenzo and Nicolina Cataldo, were new immigrants from Malta to the United States when she was born. They had several children, not all of whom survived childhood. Carolyn’s father left the family when she was only a few years old, and at the age of 5, she and her siblings were removed from the home and placed in separate foster families. It was 1930, squarely in the midst of the Great Depression. Carolyn stayed in a sequence of foster homes, and was never adopted. As an adult, her brother Larry found her, and they were reunited, one of the greatest blessings of her life. Carolyn credited her faith in God with helping her survive her childhood: “I always knew that I was made in the image and likeness of God, just like everyone else, and that is what made me worthy."

Her professional achievements are all the more incredible given these adverse beginnings. She became an RN, and served domestically as a U.S. Navy Nurse during the Korean conflict, and was ultimately stationed at Camp Pendleton. She made San Diego her home, living there for more than 7 decades until her death. After her Navy service, she became a public health nurse, but having spent 12 years in nursing, she longed for something that would continue to feed her lifelong love of learning in a different way, and she became a teacher. Carolyn took pride in teaching elementary school for more than 25 years, working tirelessly, including evenings, weekends, and in the summer to prepare and provide quality instruction in her classrooms at Bayview Terrace, Stephen Foster, and Dailard Elementary schools. Her passion for knowledge and growth led her to complete her Master’s degree in her 50’s, while also working full-time and raising a child.

In 1966, Carolyn married a widower, Kenneth Swall, who was already a father to an adult son, Roger, and she began a new chapter. “Even though I was 41, I felt like I was 17 again—starry eyed.” They had a child the next year, and moved in together to the home where Carolyn would live the rest of her life. At home, they were talented cooks and prolific gardeners, often growing their own food. They also traveled the world together, visiting numerous countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania, as well as exploring the United States. Never one to lie back and relax, she once said that her ideal vacation trip would be an archeological dig. At the age of 60, she and Ken visited her ancestral homeland of Malta for the first time.  Ken and Carolyn were married for 33 years, until his death in 1999. Her devotion to his care in his later years was profound, and his last words were “You’re my sweetheart."

During the last 25 years of her life, Carolyn’s love of learning and adventure continued unabated, as did her active lifestyle. She continued to travel the world, to read voraciously, to grow some of her own food, take part in cultural events, and to practice yoga and pilates. She also took joy in socializing, especially with her neighbors who had also grown to be beloved friends. Everyone who met her was impressed with her physical vitality, her solid stock tips, and her fierce independence. Her life was a testament to her resilience, and near the end of it she reflected “I taught myself a lot of things."

Carolyn loved nothing more than a dog, a baby, a good restaurant meal with friends, shopping a sale, or creating an impeccably coordinated outfit. Those of us who love her will miss her keen intellect, brilliant smile, sparkling eyes, and quick wit. When she laughed, she lit up the room. When she was engaged, no one was more enthusiastic, and we were all a little more alive. 

Her memorial service will be held in 2025, and she will be interred at Fort Rosecrans, in honor of her military service.