Eugene "Gene" Sweeney

W. Eugene “Gene” Sweeney, 87, died October 21, 2017 at The Cabana at Jensen Dunes in Jensen Beach, FL. He was born in Rochester, NY and moved to Port St. Lucie in 1992 from Fairport, NY. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and retired from Rochester Coca-Cola Bottling Corporation after 35 years. He was a Life Member of the Second Marine Division Association and past president of the Florida Chapter. He was a Life member of the Marine Corps League. Gene served 30 years as a volunteer fireman with the Egypt Fire Department and past president of it’s Exempt Club. He was a founder of the Greater Amateur Athletic Federation in Rochester. As a volunteer driver for St. Lucie County he drove veterans to the U.S. Veterans Hospital in West Palm Beach. He was a (50 plus) year member of the American Legion and a 54 year member of the Knights of Columbus. Gene enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in October, 1947 while attending high school in Rochester, NY. His reserve unit was activated for duty during the Korean War by President Truman in August, 1950 and served as a communications/radio instructor and administrative clerk with B-1-6 at Camp Lejeune. In September of 1951, Sergeant Sweeney spent six months on a Med Cruise with the Sixth Marines making ports of call in North Africa, France, Italy, Sicily, Sardina, Malta, Crete and Greece. After promotion to Staff Sergeant, he became an assistant to the Battalion Legal Officer prior to his release from active duty in 1952. In civilian life he was employed 35 years with the Rochester Coca-Cola Bottling Company retiring in 1991 as Director of Customer Relations. He organized reunions for Rochester’s Marine Reserve unit in 1975, 1985, and 1990. He is a Life Member of the Second Marine Division Association and served as President of Florida Chapter SMDA from 1996 – 1998. Survivors include his wife, Lorraine; two step daughters, Patricia Bechle, of Webster, NY, and Renee Mesh, and her husband, Jonathon, of Burnt Hills, NY; and two grandchildren, Noah and Christian. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary, in 1986, and brothers, Philip Sweeney, in 2002, and Leo Sweeney, in 2009. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sunday, November 5, at Aycock Funeral Home – Byrd, Young & Prill Chapel, 1170 SW Bayshore Blvd, Port St. Lucie, FL 34983, where memorial services will be held at 12 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to GRAAF, P.O. Box 637, Fairport, NY, 14450, or Treasure Coast Hospice, 5090 Dunn Road, Fort Pierce, FL 34982.