Obituary: Philip W. Sweeney, Jr., Longtime Marblehead Resident

Philip W. Sweeney, Jr., 75, passed away on May 22, 2014 at Kaplan House following a brief illness. He was the husband of Marcia (Callahan) Sweeney with whom he shared 52 years of marriage. Born in Lynn, the son of Philip W. Sweeney, Sr. and Cyrenne (Monahan) Sweeney, he had resided in Marblehead for 45 years.

He was a member of the Lynn English High School Class of 1957 and was a member of back-to-back State Hockey Championship teams in 1956 and 1957. He was also a member of the Class of 1962 at Norwich University.

He was the Chairman of The Abbot Public Library Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Marblehead Municipal Light Department Commission. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Mass. Municipal Wholesale Electricity Company and on the Policy Makers' Council of the American Public Power Association. Active in the local and State Democratic Party, he was a Life Member of the Marblehead Democratic Committee and had served as Chairman for many years.

He had several careers over his life, ranging from welding to teaching to technical writing. But, he found his true love in the hospitality business. A founder of The Black Rose in Boston, he built it into an internationally known place to celebrate Irish music. He then opened Sweeney's Retreat in Marblehead and prided himself on serving good food and good conversation.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Sweeney is survived by his three sons, Philip Sweeney, III; Marblehead Police Lt. Sean Sweeney, both of Marblehead and Scott Sweeney of California; five grandchildren, Conor Sweeney of Maine; Sean Sweeney, Jr. and Charles Sweeney both of Marblehead; Rebekah McCalmont and her husband, Mack and their son Booker John of Washington; and Samantha Sweeney and her daughter, Riley of California; two step-grandsons, Michael Meyers and his wife Tara and their daughter Emma; and Jordan Sweeney and his wife Kate and their children Jack, Faith, Oliver and Sally all of California.
He also leaves two sisters, Marilyn Waldrip of Newburyport; Sara O'Connor of Ipswich; two brothers, John Sweeney and his wife Gayle of Peabody and James Sweeney and his wife Barbara of Lynn; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held at the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead on Friday, May 30 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, 28 Mugford Street, Marblehead on Saturday, May 31 at 9:00 a.m. followed by a reception in celebration of his life at the Gerry 5, 210 Beacon Street, Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Philip W. Sweeney, Jr. Scholarship Fund sponsored by the Marblehead Democratic Town Committee, Walter Horan, Treas., 17 Haley Road, Marblehead, MA 01945.