Northborough Remembers Longtime Town Moderator Charles Parker Swan III

Charles Parker Swan III, 85, of Northborough, passed away on Nov. 15, 2013, at home, surrounded by his loving family.

Parker was born April 18,1928 in Somerville, grew up in Everett, and graduated from Everett High School in 1946. After serving in the Army, he attended college in California, and graduated from Boston University in 1952. He retired from the Burroughs Corporation in 1980 after 37 years of service.

Parker married Claire Miles Swan in 1955 and settled in Northborough, where they… proudly raised a beautiful family.

Parker leaves his wife of 58 years; a son, David Parker Swan of Worcester; and daughters Karen Swan Muggeridge and her husband John from Southborough, Ellen Swan Mazzer and her husband Timothy from Pittsfield. He was a loving grandfather of four granddaughters: Jacqueline and Diana Muggeridge, and Ashley and Tyra Mazzer. He is also survived by his sister Barbara Glancy of Stoneham.

Claire and Parker celebrated their love and marriage by traveling the world, devoting time to their church St. Rose of Lima, and by giving back to the community that they loved so much. Parker’s humor breathed life and joy into each experience they shared, and their memories spanned from the deserts of Egypt to the wonders of China.

Parker enjoyed serving the Northborough community and in 1970, he was elected town moderator and dutifully served the town for 33 years. His wit, keen sense of humor, and expert knowledge of parliamentary law saved many a stressful situation on the town floor. He and Claire have also been active in many other community activities including advocacy at the state and local levels for the developmentally disabled population.

Parker’s magic career meant the world to him, and it all began at age 8 when he was given a Mysto Magic set on his birthday. Later, Parker worked in Holden’s Magic Shop in Boston, where he was able to not only meet many famous magicians of the day, but earn his way to becoming one himself. He performed shows everywhere: from church suppers, scouting events, to service clubs all over New England. Parker and Claire were a great team both on stage and off, and they performed together at magic conventions throughout the country. Always entertaining, one of the pair’s most notable performances was “How to Force a Watermelon,” but the years were brimming with the couple’s countless creative routines. And of course, he took selfless pleasure in mentoring and inspiring young people on the magic he loved so much.

He was the former president of both the Massachusetts Moderators’ Association and the Society of American Magicians, and was an active member of the Northborough Historical Society, the Greendale Men’s Club, the International Brotherhood of Magicians, New England Magic Collector’s Association, Northborough Helping Hands, and the Harmonica Club at the Senior Center. He was also a trustee of the Seven Hills Foundation, a communicant of St. Rose of Lima and also served as former chairman of the Parish Council.

Calling hours will be held Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main St., Northborough. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013, in the St. Rose of Lima Parish, 344 West Main St., Northborough. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Howard Street Cemetery, Northborough. Donations in Parker’s memory will be meaningfully accepted by the Seven Hills Foundation at 81 Hope Ave., Worcester, MA 01603.