Western Nevada College Professor Marilee Swirczek, driving force behind ‘Always Lost’ war exhibit, dies

Marilee Swirczek, a writer, professor of English, faculty member at Western Nevada College, and a driving force behind the highly acclaimed “Always Lost: A Meditation on War” photo exhibition, died Sunday.

Swirczek was project director for the “Always Lost: A Meditation on War” exhibition that originated in her creative writing class. The exhibition received nationwide recognition, with a national tour that began in 2010 and ends this July 29, 2016. Marilee was a former Carson City Supervisor from 1987 to 1989 and wife of Ron Swirczek, a member of the Carson City School Board. She was 68.

Friend and WNC colleague Major USMC (Ret.) Kevin Burns said Swirczek was an extraordinary person whose contributions will never be forgotten.

“Marilee was giant in a small body. We joked that she was so dynamic in her classrooms that the chairs needed seat belts.” said Burns, coordinator for the Veterans Resource Center at WNC. “Teaching creative writing, she had a following that rivaled the Pied Piper’s. Many took her classes over again multiple times to absorb her vast knowledge of writing.

“She started the Lone Mountain Writer’s club in 1991 at WNC, which continues to this day. Her creation, through one of her writing classes, of ‘Always Lost: A Meditation on War’, a photography and literary exhibition to personalize the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, traveled extensively throughout the United States and is a wonderful legacy to this superb educator,” said Burns. “She was more than a teacher, more than a friend, and more than a colleague to the WNC family. She was our sister."

The WNC family deeply mourns the passing of Marilee Swirzek, said Western Nevada College President Chet Burton. "She touched scores of students at WNC, and the knowledge and passion that she passed on to them will leave an enduring legacy. WNC and the Carson community have lost a great colleague and neighbor, but we are richer for having known her. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family at this very difficult time.”

In fall 2008, Western Nevada College sociology professor Don Carlson approached Swirczek and they envisioned an art/humanities exhibition that would personalize the wars — Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom — through poems, prose and photographs.

During its seven years of travel, “Always Lost” was displayed at colleges, universities, libraries, veterans’ organizations, and community centers across the nation. The Minnesota Humanities Center sponsored an 18-month statewide tour of the exhibit as part of their "Veterans' Voices" program. A second copy of the exhibition traveled across Nevada as an official NV150 Sesquicentennial exhibit on a tour sponsored by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services.

Swirczek was invited to Washington, D.C. by members of the U.S. Senate. on behalf of the exhibit.

Proclamations honoring the exhibition were presented to the college by the Carson City Board of Supervisors and the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners, along with other accolades from around the country. There will be a a reception at 5 p.m. on the Thursday, July 28 for the Always Lost exhibition.

Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell, who worked closely with Swirczek as part of the “Always Lost” exhibit, said Marilee was a woman of great courage, passion and care.

“This is a tremendous loss to our community. She has done so much for Carson City — working as supervisor to Carson City, her dedication at the college as a professor, her passionate work behind 'Always Lost.' She was involved in many children’s programs and kids sports programs. Carson City was close to her heart always,” said Crowell.

Professor Swirczek taught literature and writing at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu and California State University, Sacramento, before joining the faculty at Western Nevada College in 1989, where she served for six years as English/Foreign Languages Chair and Lead Faculty for Communication & Fine Arts.

She founded Lone Mountain Writers (1991) and was recognized as Humanities Scholar, Nevada Humanities Committee (2003); WNC Instructor of the Year (1990-91), UCCSN Outstanding Faculty (1995-98); and Distinguished Nevadan (2001). Active in community affairs, she served on the Carson City Board of Supervisors (1987-89) and wrote an opinion column for the Nevada Appeal. Marilee is survived by her husband Ron, three children, two stepchildren and nine grandchildren.