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LA Filipino Community Advocate Dies At 48 Within 2 Weeks Of Positive Coronavirus Test

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — John Eric Swing, an advocate for Los Angeles' Filipino community has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 48.

Swing was executive director of the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, which is more well known as SIPA. Swing had worked at SIPA since 2015, and led the nonprofit's small business counseling services and programming. He had been promoted to executive director earlier this year.

john eric swing
(credit: SIPA)

He tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-June and was admitted to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center due to several complications. Swing was in grave condition within a week of his positive test, and died Sunday night.

Swing was a Marine Corps veteran and spent his career in nonprofit service. He was appointed business director for the Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture, or FPAC, and led fund development and operational management for the Filipino American Services Group Inc., the Asian Pacific Health Foundation and Hep B Free San Diego. He also served on the board for the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce and My New Hope Foundation.

SIPA's board voted to name its future small business center in memory of Swing. The organization says it plans to host an online memorial for Swing next Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

A GoFundMe established to help his family as he battled COVID-19 remains active and has raised more than $57,000, surpassing the $20,000 goal.

Swing is survived by his wife, four children, two step children, a brother and sister and his parents.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)

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