His passion for life, his compassion for other young men struggling with life as they reached the cusp of manhood, his love of God, his family, and his friends were all points of conversation as family and friends gathered to mourn the loss of Daniel John Swiggum following his untimely death on Thursday, July 24, 2008, at approximately 1:03 p.m., according to El Segundo 911 Dispatch Center. The 20-year-old son of Stewart and Marian Swiggum died instantly as his motorcycle hit the first pylon at the intersection of Imperial Highway, just as the young man was making the westerly turn from Sepulveda Boulevard (north) on the beautiful, balmy afternoon.

 Swiggum, a 2006 El Segundo High School (ESHS) graduate and recent student at El Camino College, was the 2005-06 Homecoming King, a member of the ESHS Football team, and an ESHS CIF-qualified wrestler. A blue-eyed, handsome and strapping young man (6'2" and 225 lbs) who wore #65 as a lineman for ESHS for his four years at the high school was additionally a member of the ESHS Track and Field team throwing the shotput. He also played American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) soccer from the age of five. A lifelong resident of El Segundo, Daniel lived life to the fullest. He shared his enthusiasm for working with his beloved Mexican orphan children, his sense of humor, his bright and warm smile, and his love of God with everyone, even those who did not share his strong foundational Christian roots. For several summer vacations, beginning in 2004, Daniel traveled to Vicente Guerrero, Mexico, to share his strength by helping at the Mexican orphanage. "It was during his Mexico mission trips that Daniel was the happiest and the healthiest,"shared his Mom. "He would come back from there tired from working hard all those weeks, but smiling and sharing stories of the wonderful children he had helped while at the orphanage." That is the reason we are asking that donations be made to the Foundation for His Ministry in Daniel's name (in lieu of flowers).

 "He loved to live to the extreme. He loved life. He was passionate about so many things. He had compassion for so many people. He brought that passion to everything he did. I'm so proud to have had him in our lives for these 20 years," said Marian Swiggum. A makeshift memorial emerged within a few hours of the fatal, solo accident at the pylon just over the ridge, under the 105 Freeway overpass on Imperial Highway. With a family favorite snapshot of Daniel posted on the concrete pillar and candles and flowers adorning the ground around the pylon, friends and family began to write messages to the popular athlete using chalk brought to the sight by his Dad. With expressions of love and honor such as: "I know you'd be happy to see how loved and respected you are;" "What a cool friend you were;""I'll never forget your smile;" "Blood couldn't make us any closer;" "The Big Bro I never had;" "See you in heaven;" "You will always be in my heart;""I'll never forget how nice and kindhearted you were to everyone;" "Your love for others is enormous;" and "Life on earth won't be the same without you," every free space of the pillar, up as high as can be reached without a ladder, has been covered with sentiments from peers, adults, and relatives."Life is so precious and can change in one moment," said Stewart Swiggum, whose loss of his youngest child and only son is not easily understood. "But I know that Daniel was taken from us to join the army of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My son was a true son of God and I will always be proud of the work he did in his short 20 years with us. I've heard stories of the work Daniel was doing in the lives of so many of the young men in his sphere of influence. I now understand that he did have a direction in his life and I feel privileged to call Daniel John Swiggum my son."

 Daniel attended Carson Hope Foursquare Church, Shortcut Ministry at the Pacific Baptist Church (El Segundo), and El Segundo Foursquare Church. A music enthusiast, Daniel had eclectic taste from Rap to Jazz, and his interest in current affairs and politics led to reading two newspapers each day. He loved to travel, loved his friends, loved his family, and loved The Lord. "He seized every opportunity he had to be a friend, to be a good listener, to be a good example," said "Uncle" Donte (Hawley). "He had the most diverse group of friends of all the young men I've come to know through our group at the church. He loved to take the new guys under his wing, make them feel welcome, and offer to drive them home or pick them up for the following week's meeting. Besides my own son, I know I'd never met a finer young man than Daniel Swiggum."It's ironic that his death was caused by the injuries sustained after he was thrown from his bike, hitting the cement pillar,"said Hawley. "He was a pillar, holding up all his buddies through their hard times. He helped so many of them when they were down and they needed someone to listen, someone who understood...""He was truly a light in our lives,"concluded his Dad. "He was a minister to his friends; a man of wisdom beyond his years."

 Daniel was predeceased by his beloved grandmother, Eileen Swiggum. He is survived by his parents, Stewart and Marian (nee Ruane) Swiggum; sisters, Jennifer Reed (Michael), Erika, and Kirstin; niece, Madison; nephew, Owen; his grandmother, Mary Ruane; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.