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Roger Swiderski One man's journey from commercial success, through physical and emotional breakdown, to personal fulfillment As a kid growing up in central Connecticut, 51-year-old Roger Swiderski of West Falmouth was heavily into sports, particularly baseball. I placed second base for our high school team in Naugatuck," he says, proudly noting that the school holds a modern record for consecutive wins (64) and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Little did Swiderski realize then that sports would dramatically influence the rest of his life. While playing baseball on scholarship at Eastern Connecticut State College, Swiderski underwent several knee surgeries, and it became clear that a baseball career was not to be. On-going sessions of physical therapy helped him back on his feet and also caught his professional interest. When he transferred to the University of Connecticut in 1971, he decided to major in that area. After graduation in 1974, Swiderski worked at local hospitals and independent outpatient centers, focusing on the newly emerging field of sports medicine. "I liked the aspect of quick results for sports injuries, as opposed to more prolonged treatment programs," he explains. At the same time, Swiderski was introduced to Cape Cod by his wife, Leslie, who grew up in Bourne. "We honeymooned on the Cape and built our West Falmouth house in 1986," he says. The Swiderskis welcomed their daughters Kate and Carrie in 1978 and 1980, and in 1981 Roger opened his own Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Center in Waterbury, Conn. Before long, he was overseeing close to 100 employees at 12 out-patient clinics all over the state. Clearly a man with a mission, Swiderski was pushing himself in many ways, always defining success by dollar signs. While managing his clinics, he was also organizing and participating in marathons across New England, sustaining various injuries along the way. "Gradually, things started to break down, both physically and emotionally," Swiderski says. "My marriage was in trouble and when my daughter Kate said one day; 'Dad, you're always either sick or sad,' I knew I had to take a good look at myself." By the early 1990s, Swiderski was convinced something was missing in his life. He decided to go back to school, concentrating on what he describes as complementary therapies.
Myofascial release and cranialsacral therapy integrate mind, body and spirit," Swiderski Explains, "and I pursued these subjects with a vengeance through seminars and communication with such eminent specialists as John Upledger and John Barnes." In 1995, he began a program via telephone and computer through Greenwich University in Hawaii and earned a masters in energy medicine four years later. Swiderski's lifestyle changed drastically in 2000 when he sold his Connecticut centers and came to the Cape alone. "I had always loved fishing, so one of the first things I did here was get my captain's license and develop Jolly Roger Charters, specializing in fly fishing," he says. "From May through November I run two boats: one out of Bamstable Harbor and the other out of Falmouth in Buzzard's Bay." Swiderski has also established The Therapy Touch, a mobile therapy service that acts as a smaller version of his former centers. "And in my spare time," he laughs, "I became a certified life coach, dove-tailing several elements of my background. I help clients (mostly over the phone) with personal growth and professional development: recognizing what they want, where they need to go, and how to get there." Swiderski now spends the entire winter months back in Connecticut working with therapists, both treating patients and training staff. The rest of the year he's on Cape. "As you can see, I haven't really slowed down," he says. "I've simply changed my attitude and beliefs, realizing the importance of living life from within. I'm more grounded now and I've learned to listen. My marriage is stronger as Leslie and I both honored each other's independence and became the best we could be alone and then together. Our plan is for the whole family to be on the Cape in five years. In the meantime, I want to amp things up a bit and - surprise, surprise - I've got lots of ideas and a few irons in the fire. We'll just see what happens!" About the Author 
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