Stephen Charles McSweeney

NOTE FROM STEPHEN'S daughter Heather - Some matters involving my father’s estate involve fraudulent activity . If you have information about this please contact me . 303-994-4117 / 126 Breakwater Court Joppa, MD 21085

Obituary-

Stephen Charles McSweeney, accomplished mathematician, software engineer, biker, tennis player, skier, hunter, fisherman, rancher, voracious reader, dog lover, and master of comical story telling passed away on March 18, 2022 the day after he celebrated St.Patrick’s Day which was his favorite holiday. 

 

Born on December 24th 1950 in Silver Spring Maryland, Stephen, was the most special Christmas present Charles and Alberta McSweeney could have asked for. Stephen's beautiful mother, Alberta, passed away when Stephen had just reached the age of three. Charles sister Adah and her daughter, cousin Elaine, joined the household with Stephen and his father after Alberta's passing. Aunt Adah (Nurse Bossart) helped raise the bright and energetic Stephen until Charles married Gladys (Johnson) McSweeney. Gladys was a sweet and doting mother to Stephen and Aunt Adah remained a cherished mother figure as well for his lifetime. Stephen grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and summers were spent in Colorado at the family ranch near Meeker and in Carbondale with extended family

 

Stephen attended college at Western Maryland College ( now McDaniel College) in Westminster, Maryland. Despite some of his funnier recollections of his college escapades with his Gamma Beta Kai fraternity brothers closely resembling the misadventures in the movie Animal House, he was a brilliant student.  He served in the ROTC program, graduating with honors and earning a Bachelor’s degree in mathematical sciences in 1972. He would later go on to earn his Masters degree in software engineering from John’s Hopkins College of Engineering. 

 

Stephen served proudly as a commissioned officer for the US Army corp of engineers.  Shortly after being honorably  discharged from the Army he embarked on a successful career working as an engineer for the Westinghouse Corporation. 

 

In 1978, his only child, Heather Cathleen, was born. When Heather arrived Stephen was amazed at how this tiny being captured his heart. As an only child, he had no experiences with babies, but he embraced the joy of watching tiny Heather grow and discover life.  He spent much of his life teaching her what an incredible  adventure life can be , traveling across the country in planes, trains and automobiles, taking her fishing, hiking sailing ,skiing, exploring ruins, whitewater rafting, swimming in hot-springs,  running with the big dogs and roller blading in California, exploring the vast terrain of the family ranch in Meeker, Colorado. They would stay often in the 3 room cabin,that served as the center of operations for the homestead of his Grandparents Edgar and Agnes McSweeney. He never minded taking his daughter to see a great movie more than once  sometimes going to the theater 4 or 5 times to see the same movie. He also taught her the importance of reading anything and everything- most especially a good fairy tale before bed time. 

 

In 1986 , Stephen proclaimed, “ West is Best” traded in his Mazda RX7 for a Ford Bronco and moved to Colorado to join his parents who had moved west a few years before him. He began what would be a long, successful career working as an engineer for Ball Aerospace Corporation which is where he met Camille (Cam). Cam found it impossible to resist Stephen’s zest for life, his offbeat sense of humor, his beautiful green eyes and the stealthy manner in which he rode his bike whilst also smoking a cigar so in 1991 she agreed to marry him; thus, making him one very lucky man.  They were married for over 30 years and shared many adventures including many travels, vacations in Taos, and staying at the cabin on the family ranch. Camille remained his partner ,playmate and caregiver until Stephen passed.

 

Stephen also had a life-long love affair with thin mint Girl Scout cookies which he liked to say he ate like pez out of a dispenser flipping one after the next into his mouth. In addition to Stephens love of Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies he also loved college basketball (especially ACC, GO DUKE!), reading, Civil War and American history, Maryland Crab cakes, travel, chili con queso (that "decorated" his shirt), sailing, a good cigar, playing pool on Thursday nights, an occasional single malt scotch, art, the beauty of the McSweeney Ranch and the company of his dogs, family and great friends.

 

A defining moment in Stephen’s life came in 1998 when Heather and Stephen were on a trip to the McSweeney Ranch, they rescued a dirty, injured dog that had sought refuge in the ranch coal bin. The discovery of this gravely injured dog would change Stephen's life and heart forever. Thanks to the encouragement of Heather, Stephen brought this injured dog home and paid the substantial vet bills to restore this injured stray Border Collie mix, back to robust health and the big personality that charmed all that she met. Cody Ann was Stephen's devoted and adoring canine companion and co-pilot for 15 years and enhanced his life in innumerable ways. After Cody passed, Stephen knew he still needed a dog in his life, so at the age of 65, he was blessed with the opportunity to choose his very first puppy , Sutton,  who was Stephen's devoted and loving companion until Stephen passed. The magic of Cody transformed Stephen into a dog lover that would never again live without the love of dogs in his life.

 

Stephen established lifelong relationships at Western Maryland College and attended reunions for many years with his former Gamma Beta Kai brothers. He was fortunate to have some of those brothers, Charlie and Dave, visit him in Colorado in recent years, which was a wonderful occasion for storytelling and reminiscing. One of the best blessings in Stephen’s life was the birth of his grandchildren Lillien and Aiden and the community of loving friends that he gained in Taos. "The Hood" has embraced and included Stephen and Cam and enhanced their lives immeasurably. It has made Taos an even more beautiful and rejuvenating place and refuge. Stephen loved his time there and appreciated every breathtaking sunset, star filled night sky, beer with the boys, dinners with friends.

 

To the end, his defining sense of humor remained with him. He faced his challenges bravely and carved out a good life. We can imagine  Stephen, now at peace, once again playing basketball and tennis, riding his bike, fishing with Charles and Gladys, hugging his mother Alberta, reminiscing about Hell Missions with his Gamma Beta Kai brothers, playing pool with his buddy Neil Endsley and of course receiving many puppy kisses from Cody.

 

We will forever adore and remember you Stephen Charles McSweeney– we will stand taller and stronger, knowing you are now watching over us. 

 

Stephen was predeceased by his parents, Alberta (Witchey) McSweeney, Charles McSweeney and Gladys (Johnson) McSweeney, Aunt Adah (McSweeney) Bossart, Father and Mother Inlaws, Nelan and Joyce Peterson and his faithful first dog, Cody Ann McSweeney. He is survived by his wife, Camille Peterson, daughter, Heather Cathleen Bair-Dillen(Travis), grandchildren Lillien and Aiden Dillen, sister-in-laws, Darla (Peterson) Broshar (Dave), Patricia Peterson(Bill), niece Dani (Broshar) Anderson (Dusty), niece Kennedy Anderson, nephew Kyler Anderson, cousins Elaine, Erin and Scott Hutchings, lifelong friend Hallie Marie Stanton - her daughter Hollie Fraley and her mother Maudie Corvin as well as his beloved dogs Murphy, Sutton and Paris. A private celebration of life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Stephen's memory may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation, McDaniel College, and Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering