Karen Swanigan, 52, was born in Marshfield , WI . She graduated from Wausau West HS in Wausau , WI . She moved to Florida in 1978, and graduated from USF with BS degrees in Social Science and Accounting. She started working with Florida Power (now, Progress Energy), where she continues to work.

“I spent the first 30 years of my life out of the water due to fear, and never learned to swim. Meeting, and marrying, Rod changed that. I quickly learned that he is part fish and fearless in water of all types and temperatures. I first joined a Fitness group and came to the pool in the evenings. George Bole was kind enough to teach me to swim. It was a real feeling of accomplishment to learn to put my face in water without panicking.

Swanigan relates an interesting swim experience. “Several years ago, as Rod and I swam in the Gulf, we watched a school of stingrays swim around us as we stood very still.”

For several years she stopped swimming due to her work schedule. When she come back, she discovered her fear of water had returned, and she had to fight the battle, again. “It was a great accomplishment to feel comfortable in the water, again.”

When asked what her greatest accomplishment in her life has been, she replied with a grin, “I'm very proud to be humble.” She did elaborate and added, “Starting college at 27 and completing my degrees 10 years later was a challenge, while working. I think I am more proud of refinishing all the

old popcorn ceilings in our home. And...I achieved the near impossible

task of luring Rod away from Dolly Parton!”

Swanigan's goal: “To learn the breaststroke and swim it while moving forward, not backward! Or, perhaps this stroke could become the 5th stroke and be renamed the Swaniganstroke?”

She and Rod live in St Pete, FL, in a house surrounded by a jungle of Florida native plants. They are the proud parents of 3 cats, 2 cocatiels, 1 Betta fish, 1 snail and 7 outside goldfish.

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