Richard E. Sweeney was born in Jackson, Michigan, on November 5th 1929 to Crystal May McKibben and Leo George Sweeney. He passed away on June 7th 2020 near his home in Clearwater, Florida, with his family by his side. He knew God’s Blessings and passed peacefully. Richard is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 47 years, MaryAnne, his four children and seven grandchildren, and his large loving and caring extended family.
Son Michael Allen, and daughter in-law Elisa, live in St. Petersburg, FL. Daughter Annette Marie, and son-in-law Burke Badger, live in Tarpon Springs, FL, with their three children close by, Christopher, Kelsey and Katie. Son Joseph Richard, and daughter-in-law Heather, live in Clearwater, FL with their two children, Joey 13 and Jacob 10. Daughter Mary Jo, and son-in-law Dan, live in Safety Harbor, FL, with their two children, Peyton 12 and Chelsea 11.
Richard, Ric, Rickey, Pop-Pop, Grandpa, or Pappy was known to family and friends as a fun loving, hilarious, and charismatic personality who never missed out on an opportunity to enjoy the company of everyone he met. Though his nature was to laugh easily and light up a room, his upbringing was a mix of challenges and triumphs rarely discussed.
As a child born during the Great Depression, he attended the Kalamazoo Children’s Home, a Catholic orphanage where he lived from 1935-1941. While growing up there, Ric discovered a voracious appetite for athletics, specifically football. This was a joy for him during a time when milk and meat were scarce. He remembered that his single mother struggled to make ends meet and her parents lost their farm. Ric remembered his father, a railroad worker, could not feed and house him at the time.
After 6th grade graduation from the orphanage, Ric was able to live with his Mom during the school year and live with his Dad during the summer. He attended intermediate school (grades 7-9) and high school (grades 10-12) in Jackson, MI, where he continued to excel in sports and loved the game of football. As a small 10th grader, his speed and determination allowed him to make the varsity football starting line-up and track teams. Ric was a star running back and was often featured in the Jackson newspaper. He went to Michigan State from 1949-1950 on a one-year athletic scholarship where he majored in Animal Husbandry; but after a year, Ric ran out of funds to continue college.
Ric was then drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He served for two years, first in Fort Wayne, Indiana, then in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. He was assigned to the Medical Center, became an expert marksman, taught recruits to swim, and became indispensable to officers in their daily training. After Honorable Discharge at the end of the Korean War, Ric decided to finish college using the Army Veterans GI Bill to help pay for his education. Ric would later comment that he was appreciative but did not deserve the gift of education since he was never sent overseas for active duty. He continued his education at Western Michigan University, supplemented by a track scholarship from 1953-1958, double majoring in biology and physical education, and earning a Masters Degree in Biology.
During this time Ric was married, and then in 1959 moved his family to Clearwater, FL. He accepted a biology teaching position at Largo High School coaching track, football, and little league until 1966. Although he felt a genuine passion for teaching, he chose to obtain another degree, a Masters in School Administration at USF while working as Athletic Director at the Clearwater YMCA until 1969. In 1970 he accepted a position as Dean of Boys at Tarpon Springs High School and was later promoted to Assistant Principal.
In 1973 Ric married MaryAnne Saffioti from Vineland, New Jersey. They remained in Clearwater while enjoying their family and raising their two children. Ric’s career as an Assistant Principal gave him the opportunity to meet many people whose friendship he welcomed. He accepted positions at both Northeast High School and Gibbs High School. He retired in June of 1993.
Through so many events in his 90 years of life, many remember Ric for hosting rib cookouts and barbeques. He would sing and play his Ukulele much to the amusement of friends and family. He learned to play from a buddy in the Army, and he learned to sing in the choir at the orphanage. He and MaryAnne would serve the infamous “Sween’s Beans” at family gatherings, neighborhood block parties, and at high school events. Ric dearly loved to visit Vineland, New Jersey, having found the family relationships to which he was not accustomed in his youth. In fact, Ric enjoyed visiting so much that he even pulled his boat all the way from Florida to his in-laws’ home in Jersey so he could fish in the Delaware River and cruise the Jersey inland waterway. He loved RV camping throughout the Eastern United States and Canada, visiting family along the way and enjoying adventures in Ocean City, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard.
Ric continued to serve in the Clearwater Sertoma Club while retired, helping to recruit scholarship funds for high school students. He delighted in watching his grandchildren grow while working in the yard and enjoying the outdoors. He was an avid bird watcher and loved animals. Ric was quick witted and easy to laugh, with a sharp sense of humor that never fell short of entertaining anyone in his company. His family will continue to honor this remarkable man, and the humble perseverance of a full life.
In loving memory….
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