Vermont Awards Owner Emeritus, Steve Swett, Dies at 82

After many years of struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, Steve died at Birchwood Terrace after a brief decline on December 22, 2024.

In 1996 Steve and wife Margi bought what was then Vermont Trophy and Engraving. Steve had been a banker for years, starting at Bankers Trust in NYC in 1965 and finishing as Executive Vice President and Senior Trust Officer of Citizens Bank of Flint, MI.

Steve loved working with customers, many of whom still ask after him. He was known for his friendly order follow-up and repeat reminder phone calls as well as his interest in everyone who walked in the door or worked with him. He set the direction of the business – away from individual gifts and trophies to an organizational, relationship focus – and grew the company a lot.

In 2007 Steve was diagnosed with a cognitive impairment and in 2012 with Alzheimer’s. In 2013 he recognized one of his favorite customers but couldn’t remember her name or what organization she was with. He decided right then to retire.

Steve, Margi and daughter Jessie had lived on Greenwood Lake in Woodbury, but it became obvious that Steve could not be left alone there during Margi’s long work days. They moved to the New North End of Burlington where Steve and Duke, the golden retriever pictured above, became a familiar site on their frequent long walks.

In 2021, with many falls and a dangerous wandering tendency (and Duke gone) Steve became a resident of Birchwood Terrace where he absolutely thrived. He had always been a social guy and suddenly he had dozens of friends and caregivers who could interact with him on his level. He was very active and happy until pretty recently when a decline really set in.

Jessie, who was 8 when we moved to Vermont, and is now my business partner, and I were both so proud of Steve and humbled by the amazing staff at Birchwood who loved and cared for him so beautifully.