RICHFIELD SPRINGS - Stephen Swota Steve, age 97, of Johnson Street Extension, passed away peacefully on Monday December 11, 2006 in The Otsego Manor, Cooperstown . He was born on September 21, 1909 in Watervliet, son of the late John and Anna Mlynarik Swota. Steve was raised and educated in Watervliet. On January 28, 1933 he was united in marriage with Olga Michasiow in Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Watervliet. A loving and devoted union of sixty-nine years until her passing on January 7, 2003. Together they came to Richfield Springs and made their home. Mr. Swota was known as quite an entrepreneur and self-made business man. In his early years he began by opening a feed store across from the Old Millstone Tavern, later moving it behind the Schuyler House. He reopened the Schuyler House as a restaurant and bar which he operated successfully for many years. In 1951 he built a store from which he sold and serviced freezers, refrigerators and milk machines. He later turned the appliance store into a restaurant which he called The Tavern, now known as the Vets Club/Senior Center. Steve was truly a self-made man in many areas. After his retirement in 1964, he spent many years remodeling (actually rebuilding) four camps on Canadrago Lake, learning enough to build much of his own home where he lived until entering Otsego Manor on his 97th birthday. He had a strong belief in God and was a member of Saint Joseph s Church, Richfield Springs. In his leisure time he loved to bowl and sponsored several bowling teams during his time in business. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed an active membership in the Sportsmans Club. A most familiar face in Richfield Springs he had the distinction of being the oldest as well as a charter member of the Richfield Springs Rotary Club. To all who knew him they will remember his warm smile. He was a friend to many and will never be forgotten. Surviving him are two daughters and their husbands, Shirley and Ralph Buck Wilkerson of Cody, WY, Joyce Cookie and Robert DeMasi of Rochester, three grandchildren Steve Wilkerson, Woody and his wife Jennifer Wilkerson, Valerie Sue Keating and her husband Louis, two great grandchildren Sarah and Roger Keating, two sisters-in-law Kay Swota and Eileen Swota, several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents and wife Olga he was preceded in death by five brothers, Samuel, John, Peter, Joseph and Andrew Swota, three sisters, Julia Snedeker, Evelyn Waterman and Mary Swota. Funeral from J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James Street, Richfield Springs on Saturday January 6, 2007 at 10:30 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am in Saint Josephs Church Richfield Springs. The Reverend Terrence Healy will officiate. Interment will take place in Saint Josephs Cemetery later this spring. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 pm.