BLOOMINGTON – Charles Edward ‘Ed’ Swango, longtime owner of Mays Greenhouse and a fixture in the Bloomington community for over four decades, died Monday morning in an accidental house fire. He was 60 years old.
Monroe Fire Protection District responded to Swango’s residence on South Fairfax Road shortly after 1 a.m. Monday. Firefighters, acting on information from Monroe County Sheriff Deputies about an occupant inside, located Swango unresponsive in the kitchen area. Despite rapid response efforts, including immediate transport to the IU Health emergency room, he succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators from the Monroe Fire Protection District and the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was caused by discarded smoking materials.
Swango’s journey with Mays Greenhouse began in 1981 when he started working there as a teenager. He later became partial owner alongside Bob Pennington in the early 2000s. Nate Pennington, a longtime friend and co-owner who worked with Swango since the 1990s, credited him for the business’s sterling reputation. “We have a reputation for having high quality,” Pennington said. “And I think we owe that to him more than anybody.”
Following Swango’s passing, ownership of Mays Greenhouse will transfer to Nate Pennington and Jason Fulton. A private family graveside service will be held later this week, with details on how to pay respects forthcoming.
