Sandra "Sandy" Olsen-Swart

Sandra “Sandy” Jean Olsen-Swart lived her life the way she died. She met every challenge with fire in her eyes, fighting tooth and nail for her loved ones, and always had a wise crack locked and loaded. She was a very bright light that will forever leave this world a little darker now that she has passed on after a battle with cancer on October 28, 2026.

Sandy was born on November 8, 1961, and remained a lifelong local to Bloomville, NY and the surrounding areas. She spoke fondly of her childhood years, when Sal’s Meat Market was her family’s “Olsen’s Meat Market”. She grew up on Scotch Hill Road with her mother, father and sisters, caring for their family horses Indian and King, babysitting local legends, picking berries for her Grandma Dee Dee’s pies, and doing her best to remain on Dee’s good side. She spent her schooling career at South Kortright Central School, racking up the softball wins with her sisters, Kathy, Karen and Nancy. As her glory years as a softball star receded, it was replaced with her loving family, Billie Jo, Jason, Nathan, Teresa and Makayla, who kept her life busy and full with 20 years between the oldest and youngest. With them brought many grandchildren, who she adored and doted on, referring to her as “Mema” or as she put it “The Mean Mom”. Her endless spoiling would appear to contradict that statement though. She spent those years teaching the little ones the art of gardening, bird watching, and stealing all the ripe strawberries from the vine before anyone else got the chance to have one.

Sandy loved to immerse herself in her hobbies and work, and held a large array of jobs all of her life, from helping pregnant women through Catholic Charites, running equipment with Delaware Bulldozing, making the best treat at the Bloomville Diner, ang finally spending the last 18 years working at and managing John’s Tavern, where a lasting legacy was born.

She will forever be remembered at John’s as everyone’s favorite bartender. She was a petite woman but knew how to command a room full of men three times her size, party with the best of them and make a lasting impression on everyone she met. Many of her favorite memories were spent there with her husband, Robert Swart, with whom she spent over 29 happy years. Together they worked on many wonderful causes, becoming some of the founding members of the John’s Tavern Annual St. Jude Bike Run, an event that has raised over $50,000 since its humble beginnings.

Sandy spent her last days surrounded by those she loved, cracking jokes and doing her best to make those around her smile despite the battle she was waging. She lives on forever in our memories as a woman that brought continuous light, love and laughter in every single state of life.

She is survived by her husband, Robert; five children; 14 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; three sisters, her mother and stepfather: Bonnie and Norton Holly; stepmother: Marilyn Olsen and many beloved cousins and extended family and friends. She was predeceased by her father: Eugene Olsen.

A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held at 2PM on Saturday, November 14, 2026 at the Bloomville Fire Hall, 243 Scotch Hill Road, Bloomville, NY. Followed by a gathering at John’s Tavern in Stamford that evening. The family has asked for those attending to wear something yellow, or brightly colored, as those were Sandy’s favorites. 

Please visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence with Sandy’s family.