Robert David Swayhoover

Robert David Swayhoover was born June 20, 1961 to Albert Garfield Swayhoover and Phyllis Chadwick Wardell, (both deceased), of Deer Park, Long Island, NY. In 1969, the family moved to West Islip, NY and lived on Cedar Pointe Dr. Robert (Bob/Bobby) graduated from West Islip High School in 1979. After graduating, he attended Chamberlyane College in Boston, MA, earning his A.A.S. in Advertising/Commercial Art in 1983. Robert worked as a driver for Manhattan Limousines, in which he drove many celebrities and other notable figures; (Joan and Ted Kennedy, Oleg Cassini, Calvin Klein and Vanessa Williams to name a few). One job brought him to Samuel French, a theatrical publishing company, where he met his wife-to-be, Patricia (Pat/Trish) Arnell Townes from "The Valley" in the Bronx, NY. A simple "hello" brought them together in 1992. In October/November of that year, they rented their first apartment in Astoria, Queens, NY. Bob and Pat lived in Astoria 4 years then moved to a high-rise building in Elmhurst, NY (the building can be seen in "Coming to America"). Pat and Bob married in August 1997 at the Elks Lodge on Queens Boulevard. During this time, Robert was first, a private chauffer for a music producer and then for the CEO of a commercial real estate company. After 9/11, Bob and Pat decided to pick up and start over again and in 2003, moved to North Carolina. Once there, they lived 2 years in Sanford, NC then moved north, living in Cary, NC for a year before purchasing a house in Raleigh, NC. Robert loved New York but was willing to leave it behind. Since he was a boy, he shared in his father's passion for working on antique cars. He even purchased a 1970 Buick Le Sabre (Freda) hardtop that he and Pat drove for their move to North Carolina and a 1962 Chevy Biscayne (Lisa) that he restored. He liked working with his hands, making a wooden mold of the New York skyline intended for a fish tank decoration complete with a smashed up NY taxi cab, and making household improvements (building a closet and putting in shelving). He also enjoyed working in the yard. His love for the water prompted him to build a platform on which sat a "Cocktail Pool" that he and his wife enjoyed. Robert created and had manufactured a camera support device called "The Tripad". With the encouragement and support of his wife, Robert wrote his first and only fiction novel named "Anniversaries" under the pseudonym "David Cedar". Robert was a loving husband, brother, uncle, and friend whose humorous, kind and caring nature will be greatly missed. Robert leaves behind his wife Patricia Arnell Townes-Swayhoover, brother, Albert (Alby) Garfield, sister Jean Lam, nieces Rebecca Mangini, Rachel C. Lam, and Aqilah A. Bruen, nephews David Lam, Stephen Garfield, Andrew Garfield, Basil Attallah McFadden, Kendu S. O'Neal, and Kavon S. O'Neal, grand nieces and nephews and a host of cousins and friends.