Ruth Swiggett (1903-2009) was an activist and pillar of the El Sereno community for nearly half a century. Born Ruth Ervin in Texas, she moved to South Central L.A. with her parents when she was still a child. She married first husband Roy Thompson in 1922, left him by 1940, and made her living as a housekeeper while raising their four kids by herself. She came to El Sereno around the time she tied the knot with Ed Swiggett in 1964. Soon she got involved with countless local organizations, chief among them the El Sereno Youth Center and the El Sereno Senior Citizens’ Center, both of which she cofounded. Although I found no official record of the unveiling of Ruth Swiggett Drive, a photo taken by Swiggett’s grandson at the event indicated that it occurred in 2003. This was surely in celebration of Swiggett’s centenary, although she was guest of honor at another 2003 event marking 150 years of the Los Angeles Unified School District. That event was held at Farmdale Elementary School – now addressed on Ruth Swiggett Drive. Swiggett died a few weeks before her 106th birthday.
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