Memorial

Our actions on earth have the potential to continue to positively affect the world long after we are gone. Whether a memorial is set in stone, hearts or digital information its a comfort to know we will continue to touch people even after we are gone.

I was asked to express the gratitude of Rodger Swan's family and Girlfriend. They also asked that I let you know about a memorial fund set up in his honor at WMU (Western Michigan University).

Here is part of the text of the mail:

In order to remember Rodger and his love for Japan, we have created the Rodger Swan Memorial Fund for Japanese Studies to support students who are studying Japanese and traveling to Japan from WMU. We hope that all of you friends, loved ones, and YouTube fans will donate to the fund, even if it only a few dollars. With everyone working together, we should be able to create something wonderful in Rodger's name. Thank you very much. Here is the link to donate online.

https://shopwmu.wmich.edu/ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=718&SI...

If you would prefer to donate by check, please make out the check to "WMUF: Rodger Swan Memorial Fund" and send it to the following address.

WMU Gift Processing
1903 W. Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5403 USA

A Facebook Page has been created for the memorial fund:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/causes/440596/about

Rodger Swan's funeral information: Monday, 2/8 from at 2pm, with visitation beginning at 1pm. Richard A. Henry Funeral Home, 703 Capital Ave. SW in Battle Creek, MI. All are welcome.



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Please do what you can. Like many of us I hope this fund will bring to Japan a new face in a line of Japan-curious foreigners stretching as far back as forerunners like Koizumi Yakumo. He was after all, the Rodger Swan of the 1800's. Here is to hoping Rodger's legacy will last as long.

Belatedly... the music is:
Clannad - Coinleach Ghlas an Fhormair
from the album "Clannad 2"

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Rodger Swan
• Koizumi Yakumo

[PTSnake]

Very inspiring. I, too, would like to know the name of the music you used, it gives off a very "zen" ambient.

Keep up your work kev, you've touched as many lives as he did, keep going for him ;)

[tokyocooney]

Posted the info in the side bar about the band.

[jeffreyangles]

Thank you for making this nice tribute to Rodger. I was Rodger's Jpns prof at WMU and knew him very, very well.

It was a sweet idea to show the grave of Koizumi Yakumo and draw that parallel.

Incidentally, there, in the same Zoshigaya graveyard, there is the grave of another writer of "kaiki" (strange & uncanny) tales, Murayama Kaita. Rodger read Kaita's work with me in an independent study a little over a year ago, and so I thought it sweet to see Zoshigaya in your film.

Thanks again.

[DustinNami4Ever]

Roger looked so happy in all his videos and he didn't even know what was coming. :(

[MonkeyMagic88]

Roger Swan = WINNING !

[jeepgrl16]

i would like to go to WMU. i really want to go to japan to teacher R.I.P rodger! you are my insperation

[Sxrillez]

Rodger Swan was an awesome man. I loved the style of his videos. I could also tell that he was a genuinely nice person. He will be missed.

Happy Birthday Rodger...

R.I.P.

[YoshiMystu002]

Rodger Swan isn't dead!, Just press play and get Inspired to travel all over the world!!!. He's still watching over us!.

[Jehosh27]

@DustinNami4Ever But isn't that part of why he was great? Because every day of his life, Rodger smiled as much as he could. He chased a dream, and actually caught it, and did so smiling. Honestly, he lived more than a lot of people I know. That's why I don't worry about him too much. Because after all, we will see him next time.

[vonkavonka]

Roger was an amazing person. I didn't know him personally but I have been following him on youtube since TokyoSwan and he really inspired me. He was one of the reasons I went back to school. Seeing Roger being so passionate about Japanese Films and just Japanese culture in general, moving away from home away from family and friends to do something that he loved made me reflect on my life. He always seemed very genuine, sweet, and just like a all around good person.

[itzsykez]

rest in peace rodger..In all your videos you seemed like such a happy and wonderful person. You will really be missed. =(

[thejonnyboy1711]

i'll follow in his footsteps

[Nat4Brendan]

Thank you for posting this, it's an extremely touching video.

[sheweegirl79]

It would be a great help to many people especially his friends and family and anyone wishing to visit japan. Make a dvd of all his youtube videos and give the proceeds to his memorial fund. His friends and family should obviously get a copy cause lets face it youtube is based on subscribers and comments and has limitied space so his channel wont be around forever. This way we dont have to lose something so great. It would help alot of people in alot of ways.