Stephen Robert Swearingen, age 79, passed away on June 17 at the Vierra nursing home in Falls Church.

Steve was born in New York to George and Felicia (nee Feldman) Swearingen in 1943, the oldest of four children. By 1950 the family had relocated to Asheville, North Carolina. where he spent the remainder of his youth, graduating from Lee H. Edwards High School ’60 and then Asheville-Biltmore College (since renamed UNC-Asheville) ’66.

Steve moved to the Washington DC area to work for the federal government, and resided in Northern Virginia (mostly Arlington) for the rest of his life. Steve worked at the Department of Education, and later at the National Assessment Governing Board, as a Budget and Finance Officer and then a Contract Specialist, until his retirement in 2009.

For several decades Steve volunteered for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization of the National Capital Area. Steve served as a mentor, role model and surrogate father figure for at least 3 different at-risk young boys, making a positive impact in their lives.

Steve’s passion in life was contract bridge. He lived to play bridge; all else was secondary. In his prime, Steve was a fierce competitor. At the table he was a force of nature, both as declarer and defender. He was well known to top players across the country and for decades ranked among the very top masterpoint holders within the Washington Bridge League.

Steve concluded his bridge career as an ACBL Platinum Life Master with 16,352.72 master points, 45 Blue Ribbon Qualifications and 5 Silver Ribbon qualifications. Steve will be missed and mourned by the bridge community that knew him so well.

To Plant Memorial Trees in Stephen's memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.