Diane R. Swanson passed away peacefully on April 23, 2014. She was 79. Diane was passionate about her many interests and endeavors and approached them with a keen intellect and wry sense of humor. She was particularly proud of her more than 40-year career with The Kansas City Public Library, which began in 1958 and included serving as manager of the Plaza Branch from 1985 to 2000. She retired from the system in 2002. Diane's passions included the opera - she enjoyed operas and opera houses from Kansas City to New York, Paris and Milan; horses - for many years she was an active member of the Mission Valley Hunt Club and the Mission Valley Pony Club; travel - her journeys took her to destinations throughout the world; and tennis - she was an enthusiastic member of the former Rockhill Tennis Club. Diane was born in the Chicago area and earned an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and a graduate degree in library science from the University of Denver. She loved Chicago, Lake Michigan, and Northwestern and took every opportunity to visit.

Memorial Service

Friends are invited to a celebration of Diane's life on Wednesday, April 30 from 3 - 6 pm in the Cohen Room at the Plaza Branch Library, 4801 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64112.

Contributions

Contributions in Diane's memory may be made to the Library; to Harvesters, 3801Topping Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64129; or to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64111.