Joseph John Swiergosz, Jr

Joseph J. Swiergosz Jr., 77, of Holland, Ohio, passed away January 8, 2017 after a long struggle with primary lateral sclerosis. A dedicated and supportive member of the Toledo community, Joe worked for Willis Day Moving and Storage and Corrigan United for more than 30 years, working his way up from the loading docks to eventually become Vice President of Marketing at Willis Day and Regional Director at Corrigan United. “Polish Prince” Joey was a graduate of Central Catholic High School and proud alumnus of the University of Toledo. A longtime season ticket holder for UT basketball and football teams, legend has it that some members of the “Unbeatable Rockets” football teams of 1969-1971 chalked up their incredible winning streak, in part, due to Joe’s legendary martini and tailgating parties before, during and after the game. Late longtime friend and Toledo sportscasting legend, Orris Tabner, once mused that perhaps more than one of Don Crotts’ game-saving field goals made it through the goal posts due to the lighter air in the end zone caused by Joe’s barbecue infernos in the south parking lot of the Glass Bowl. A longtime member and former president of the Toledo Kiwanis Club, Joe and his sons always attended the annual chicken dinner fundraiser and sold peanuts in front of local supermarkets during “peanut-day” charity drives. Joe had a keen appreciation for family, nostalgia and travel. Holidays with Joe were family-focused, often spent enjoying old home movies (replete with ad lib, sarcastic commentary from his sons), martinis, barbequed steaks, a bowl of shrimp, and a moratorium on televised sports. And martinis. Yes, plenty of those. Fond of golf and fishing, Joe was good at neither. Scores of lost golf balls and buckets of wasted bait attest to his sporting mediocrity. Indeed, legend has it that one can still hear Joe's infamous gritted-teeth mutter, 'sonovahbitchhhh' quietly echoing in the woods of Heatherdowns or across Lake Erie. But the thrill of victory was never Joe’s goal; the time and camaraderie spent with his sons and friends was always his real objective. The laughs and resulting fables that turned legendary over the years far outlived the memory of a day's score or catch. His eternal fondness for the debonair era of Errol Flynn and Humphrey Bogart helped spawn a generation of black and white movie lovers among his children and grandchildren; earning him the moniker of “Suave Joey.” Joe enjoyed travel and frequently visited Florida, Houghton Lake, Las Vegas and California. Florida was always his favorite destination though, as he traveled with his family there several times, including a trip to support his beloved Rockets playing in the 1970 Tangerine Bowl. The long-lasting friendships Joe developed over the years were sustained even after he was rendered largely paralyzed by his illness. His loyal friends were frequent visitors and even in their later years, he and his close clutch of friends helped sustain sizable kielbasa and liquor sales in the Northwest Ohio area. Joe was a devoted and faithful son to his parents, Joseph and Rose Swiergosz, visiting them often until their passing. He is survived by his sisters Marcia, Roseann and Marilyn; his sons Martin, Michael, Matthew and Paul; and his 13 grand and great grandchildren. Joe will be laid to rest next to his mother at Resurrection Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to mark his life and passing with visitation hours on January 14, 2017 from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. in Neville Funeral Home, Southwest Chapel, 7438 Airport Highway, Holland, Ohio 43528 (419-865-8879). A memorial will service will follow the visitation at 3:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers donations be made to Kiwanis Club of Toledo.