Michael Truitt Swain was born March 12, 1997, in Newark, Delaware. He passed away unexpectedly on July 23, 2026, in Jacksonville Beach, Florida at the age of 29. He is survived by his parents, Jack and Patty Swain; his brother, Ryan Swain; his grandmother, Lynda Fajans; his aunts and uncles, Dale and Lorraine Swain, Steve and Christine Swain, David and Amanda Swain, Elizabeth and Chris Wendzel, and Suzanne and Tim Werner; and his 13 cousins. He was preceded by grandparents, Nelson and Jean Swain; and grandfather, Robert Fajans.
Michael attended Ponte Vedra High School from 2011 – 2015. He was on the varsity wrestling team, during which time he participated in the Optimist Invitational tournament and received a gold medal for his 152 lb weight class. He also participated in the Florida regional tournament in his senior year.
He attended college at Florida State University and was accepted into the Honors Program. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, with a minor in Psychology in December 2020. During college, Michael joined a FOREX trading club, which sparked his imagination and entrepreneurial spirit. Being an independent spirit, he was not one to think conventionally or to take a traditional approach; he wanted to forge his own path. He began a journey exploring algorithms, market indicators, and using AI to build a crypto payment system. He had an incredibly analytical mind, exceptional intelligence, and a great desire to build something new and remarkable.
Growing up in Sawmill Lakes in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Michael had a “pack” of friends he grew up with, many of whom remained friends until his passing. He was not one to sit inside watching tv or playing video games; Michael was always outside playing sports, riding bikes, and being active. In addition to his high school wrestling, he loved Jiu Jitsu, snowboarding, and playing golf with his friends and grandfather. He appreciated a variety of music, and particularly admired masterful lyrics. An exceptional, self-taught cook, he used recipes as a guide rather than gospel and was very proud that he cooked a perfect beef wellington on Christmas Eve.
Michael had a ready smile, an easy-going personality, was quick thinking and quick witted. He had a light-hearted way of bringing joy and laughter to those around him. He enjoyed pulling off mischievous, harmless fun like setting up a trampoline in his house while his parents were away, purposefully capsizing his sailboat at summer sailing camp causing traffic to back up on the bridge nearby, having a golf cart joy ride at 2 am while at a sleepover at a friend’s house, and helping with his high school senior prank of setting up an above-ground swimming pool in the school’s courtyard! Extremely generous with his time and talents, Michael was a steadfast son, brother, grandson, and true friend. His family and friends knew they could always depend on him to be there for them—lending a hand, providing support, serving as a pillar of strength, and showing up when they needed him most. Wise beyond his years and possessing a genuinely kind heart, he also forged special relationships with mentors he admired and with people in older generations.
Taken from this earth far too soon, words cannot convey how deeply he will be missed or the profound tragedy of losing someone so exceptional—someone who still had so much to give, so much to accomplish, and so many lives yet to touch. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family and friends, and the love, laughter, and joy he brought into their lives will continue to be a blessing to all who knew him.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 11:00 am at the Ponte Vedra Valley Funeral Home, 4750 Palm Valley Rd, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082.
