Richard D. “Dick” Sweeney of Hingham, a devoted husband, father and doting grandfather, passed away after a brief illness on Thursday, March 20. He was 72. A gifted public speaker blessed with an engaging personality and an Irishman’s quick wit, Dick left an enduring impression on his family and many friends and business associates. He was a native New Englander who loved the ocean, and yet enjoyed the opportunity to live and travel extensively in Europe and Asia during the course of his 40-year career. In his last few years, he devoted a significant portion of his time to caring for his wife Jean, to strengthening the bonds of family, and exhibiting Christ’s lessons of service to others before self.
Dick was born on June 24, 1935 in Brockton to William and Margaret (Buckley) Sweeney. He grew up in Whitman with his five brothers and two sisters. He attended Miramar, a private Catholic high school training boys for the priesthood, where he was captain of the football and basketball teams and president of the Drama Club, playing the part of Christ in their annual Passion Play during his senior year. After graduating in 1953, he pursued seminary training with the Society of Divine Word Missionaries in upstate New York for a year, ultimately deciding it was not his vocational calling.
He attended Boston College and earned a BA in economics. While attending BC he also played semi-pro football with the old Whitman Town Team, earning his personal moment of gridiron glory when he kicked the winning 35-yard field goal in a game in 1957. Over the years as the story was retold, his son says the kick became longer, the conditions harsher and the stakes higher. Dick served in the U.S. Army and received an honorable discharge as a 1st Lieutenant in December 1962.
Dick’s diverse sales and marketing career began with Sea-Land Service in the 1960s, which led to living and working for 5 years in Germany and The Netherlands. In 1973 he relocated to Norwell and worked as director of trade development for the Massachusetts Port Authority. In later years he was a regional director and senior program manager for the Mass. Department of Economic Development, and most recently worked as the community development program coordinator for the town of Norwood. Dick also spent more than 20 years as an adjunct faculty in marketing for Northeastern University.
Dick is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jean (Damon), his son Richard Jr. (“Rick”), daughter Colleen Ellis, and daughter Erin DeSantos. He leaves his eight grandchildren: Kaylin DeSantos, Joseph Ellis II, Brendan Sweeney, Ryan DeSantos, Heather Sweeney, Rachel Ellis, Jessica Sweeney and Hope Ellis. Dick also leaves his brothers William Jr. (“Bill”), Michael and Mark Sweeney and his sisters Jane Barrows and Mary Blanchard, and their families. He was predeceased by his brothers Leonard and Charles Sweeney.
Calling hours are Thursday, March 27 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Whitman. A Funeral Mass to be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Resurrection, 1057 Main St., Hingham. There will be no procession from the Blanchard Funeral Chapel to the church prior to the service. Burial to follow in the Bourne National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dick’s memory to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Fund 495 Old Connecticut Path, Framingham, MA 01701