James J. Sweeney's Obituary
James W. Sweeney, 77, a resident of Lawrence, died on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Beth Israel Hospital Boston after a long illness.
He was born in Manhattan, the only child of James J. Sweeney and Mae (Colhoun) Sweeney of New York City, Long Island and Rosendale, Ulster County, NY. A 1962 graduate of Regis High School in Manhattan, he received a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Manhattan College in 1966. He attended Yale University and received a master’s in philosophy before moving to St. Louis to enroll in doctoral program in Philosophy of Science at Washington University. He completed his PhD in 1977. While at Washington University, he was appointed managing director of the distinguished scholarly journal, The Philosophy of Science.
From 1972 to 1978, he taught philosophy at Merrimack College. In 1978 he began work at Wang Labs in Lowell where he remained until the 1990’s. He then joined a startup technology company called Imagery that was purchased by Eastman Kodak which was the process of creating a digital photography division to balance its traditional camera and film business. He was a Project Manager of several digital hardware and software projects at Kodak from 1995 until his retirement 2004. While at Kodak he frequently traveled to Europe and Asia, especially to Germany, China and Japan.
He enjoyed foreign travel whether for business or recreation. His favorite places In Europe were England, Italy and Germany but he also found his trip to China and Japan fascinating memorable and enlightening.
His doctoral dissertation focused on the opportunities presented by new technologies both in research design and field work in modern archaeology. His background on classical Greek and Roman culture dating back to his Regis and Manhattan education led him to study the archaeology of ancient Etruscan civilization. He traveled to Tuscany both on his own and in 2001 as part of Merrimack colleges annual Pellegrinaggio in Italia to pursue this interest.
After his retirement, he resumed his earlier study of Greek and Latin, taking courses offered by the Harvard Classics Department. Only his failing health prevented him from continuing his studies in that area and also foreclosed the possibility of more foreign travel. In 1984, he bought a home in Lawrence and became involved in the local community. He was a member of the Lawrence Democratic Committee, the Colonial Heights Neighborhood Association and served one term on the Lawrence School Committee.
For many years he served as an usher at the 11:00 o'clock Sunday Mass at Saint Patrick's Church. After living here for five decades although still insisting that New York City was a place unmatched by any other part of the country, he finally admitted that Boston, the Merrimack Valley and the New England Coast, were competitive with the attractions and food of his native city. He loved and missed the great meals at Lawrence’s legendary Bishops and Cedar Crest Restaurants. Every summer, he looked forward to enjoying Markey’s seafood dinners. A long-time regular customer of North Andover’s China Blossom, he enjoyed the excellence and variety of their menu. He preferred his steak, chops and prime rib from Butcher Boy, pies from Mann’s Orchard, the pizza, pastries and Italian specialties from Piro’s and Tripoli's Bakeries and the incomparable Gelato from Dolce Freddo in Methuen. An admirer of the impeccable taste and tailoring of Andover’s Enzo Fossella, his wardrobe contained many examples of Enzo’s sartorial excellence. He was most happy in recent winters to sit reading in front of his pellet stove wearing one of Enzo’s special sweaters while a cat or two sat on his lap or at his feet. A fan of science fiction since he was a boy and owned a vast selection of books on that subject and had an almost complete collection of the magazine, Analog Science Fiction and Fact spanning the past 60 years.
He always enjoyed spending near the ocean whether sailing on the deck of a windjammer sailing off Maine coast or walking along the sands of a local beach. As his health declined, he was less able to engage in these activities, but he never complained about his limitations. Dedicated to protecting the environment and preventing endangered species from exploitation and extinction, he belonged and contributed to the Humane Society, MSPCA, World Wildlife Fund, as well as several local feline rescue organizations. He especially missed his late cats Austin and Regis but enjoyed the company of his three current cats Smokey, Russell, and Angel. His professional affiliations included the American Archaeological Association, the American Philosophical Association, and the Philosophy of Science Association. He was a compassionate patient, generous, honest, brave and very intelligent man whose sometimes serious and formal manner hid a warm heart and a kind soul. He will be truly missed by his many.
Special thanks are owed to the doctors’ nurses and technicians at Fresenius Kidney Center in Methuen, particularly Sheila, Amanda, Kelli, and Lisa who helped him who helped him remain on dialysis for fourteen years. Over the past four months during an on-going health care crisis, the tireless efforts of many doctors, nurses and medical personnel at Lawrence General, Mass General and Beth Israel Deaconess to make him comfortable and to help his recover were extraordinary and exemplary. Two wonderful neighbors Curtis and Sherry Perkins whose constant assistance in support was provided at all hours of the day or night helping him remain at home longer than otherwise possible.
He is survived by his life partner and best friend of 50 years Marguerite P. Kane and his three beloved cats Smokey Russell and Angel as well as many friends.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 14, 2022, at 11:00AM in St. Patrick Church, 118 South Broadway, Lawrence, MA, 01843. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery in Lawrence, MA.
Friends may call on Thursday, January 13, 2022, from 4:00PM to 7:00PM at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. 122 Amesbury St. Lawrence, MA, 01841. For more information or to send an online condolence please visit our website at: www.breenfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to environmental, animal protection and rescue agencies or to the charity of one’s choice.
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