Arlington, MIT Mourn 'Brilliant And Kind' Professor

ARLINGTON, MA — An Arlington resident and professor of chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology died Nov. 5. James Swan was 39 years old.

MIT announced Swan's passing in a statement Tuesday, indicating that he died unexpectedly from a "medical event."

Swan joined the MIT faculty in 2013 and had recently earned tenure. His research focused on how microstructured materials, particularly nanoparticles, can be manipulated for the benefit of society, according to a statement from the school.

"Jim was both brilliant and kind, a thoughtful and generous mentor and teacher," Paula Hammond, head of MIT's Department of Chemical Engineering, told the MIT News. "His scientific accomplishments were truly groundbreaking and opened the world to new levels of understanding complex material systems; however, his biggest and largest gifts to us were his scholarship, his sense of integrity and humanity, and the guidance, wisdom, strength, and confidence that he provided to his students and postdocs."

Swan, a native of Arizona, put down roots in Arlington with his wife, Laura, and their son, Henry. Omnipresent on many community Facebook groups, he was remembered by his neighbors in Arlington as a thoughtful voice, articulate, supportive and a "treasure."

A GoFundMe campaign for Swan's family has raised more than $38,000 of its $40,000 goal as of 3:50 p.m. Thursday.

"Jim made a positive impact on every community of which he was a part," Annie Clarke-Lauer, who organized the fundraiser, wrote. "His students and colleagues at MIT, where he had recently been awarded tenure as a Professor of Chemical Engineering, members of the multiple Arlington, MA FB groups where he was a spirited and consistent voice, and his son’s Hardy Elementary School community all benefitted from Jim’s presence."

Plans for a memorial at MIT will be announced at a later date.