Daniel Joseph McSweeney, 84, of Newport Rhode Island, died at home on October 24, 2020, with his beloved wife of 35 years, Rebecca McSweeney, by his side.
He died due to complications resulting from Parkinson’s Disease.
Dan cherished family above all else, and was a much loved husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great uncle. As the only boy among six siblings, he was the last McSweeney in his lineage and made it his responsibility to share the family history with younger generations.
He was a steadfast, warm and loving friend who helped many, many people, by encouraging and supporting them through humor and honesty to lead productive and happy lives. He was the best cheerleader ever. True to form, he turned his job as a commercial real estate owner and broker and property manager into another opportunity to extend his social circle, befriending everyone from restaurateurs to shop owners, parking lot attendants to hot dog sellers.
Dan was a professional storyteller, never happier than when he was sitting, legs crossed, in his Harvard Chair around the table telling tales. He had an anecdote for every occasion, with a Camp Kiev song sprinkled in for good measure, topped off by a hearty chuckle.
He was a dapper dresser, taking pride in looking “tweedy.” He never met a Herringbone jacket or Shetland sweater that he didn’t like. And he was an extravagant cook, bravely tackling any recipe packed with butter from Julia Child’s hollandaise and bearnaise sauces to Harold and Peter Petropolis’ grandmother’s 3- hour Spanakopita with his sous chef Rebecca at his side.
Dan had a lifetime love affair with sports of all kinds. He was an avid sportsman throughout his youth, earning 8 Varsity letters from Milton and ranking 7th in New England for squash. His passion for racquet sports extended throughout his life and he continued to play the ancient sport of court tennis into his 80s. If he wasn’t playing sports, he was watching them, be it the Red Sox, Celtics, Wimbledon or the local little league who never won a game. Dan loved them all.
Dan saved a special place in his gentle and generous heart for four-legged friends--his collies as a kid, a rescue named Domino who loyally spent countless work days on the floor by his desk, and the newly acquired Diego.
He is survived by his wife, Becky McSweeney; sister Annsie McBroom, daughters Alison and Brett O’Hara and Kate Sweeney and her husband Colm; granddaughter Katia Holmes and grandsons Eamon and Siadhal Sweeney. He also has many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews who love him dearly.
He will be also missed by his in-laws: Deborah and George Schuessler and daughter Angela, Sarah and Clay Statmore, Ann and Blake Morris and daughter Carly as well as countless lifelong friends from Milton, Harvard, the Owl Club, AA, and the Hasty Pudding Club.
He will have an extended family reunion with his father and mother, Daniel and Adelaide Sweeney; sisters, Jane Dowling, Ruth Hadley, and Heidi Eggers; and other assorted family members and friends who died too young.
Calling hours (masks and social distancing please) will be held on Sunday, November 1st from 1:00 to 4:00 at 33 Farewell Street, Newport. A Memorial service will take place in Little Compton in May.
In lieu of flowers, Dan would have appreciated donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research www.michaeljfox.org.
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About |
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| Name | Daniel Joseph McSweeney |
| Date of Birth | May 30th, 1936 |
| Date of Death | October 24th, 2020 |
| Home Town | Milton, MA, US |
| Other City | Newport, RI, US |
| In Memoriam Donation | Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research |
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Memorial |
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| Funeral Home | Fern Acres Funeral Home |
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published a tribute .
My beloved Uncle Dan McSweeney passed away yesterday. He has always been one of my favorite people on earth--thoughtful, smart, funny and so loving. As a kid, I literally worshipped him. He took me to my first major league game to watch his cherished Boston Red Sox. He'd tell me stories about having a gymnasium off his bedroom, which of course I thought was the coolest thing I'd ever heard. He gifted me his baseball scrapbooks from his childhood. I'd spend hours looking through them and imagining him when he was my age. As an adult, I'd make an annual trip to Newport, RI to see Dan and his amazing wife Becky. It was always a highlight of my year. He'd cook his famous spanakopita, then we'd walk down the street to watch the Newport Gulls, the summer collegiate baseball team. We'd visit the Tennis Hall of Fame and he'd explain the intricacies of court tennis to me. We'd always spend a day or two at Little Compton, one of the most beautiful beaches in America. Dan was a master storyteller with the best sense of humor of anyone I've ever known. We'd spend hours together with him regaling me with hilarious and incredible stories about his childhood, college at Harvard and adulthood. Dan's life was really the definition of a life well lived. He was loved by so many and will be missed by so many. RIP Uncle Dan.
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published a comment .
I first met Dan McSweeney through mutual friends when I was teaching at Belmont Hill in Belmont, MA and living with Joe Dow in Cambridge. Our wives later on became good friends when we both lived in Weston, MA, and I remember going with Dan & Bonnie to the Cape one long weekend and playing tennis with him. On that weekend we became very good friends and remained so during my few years living in the Boston area.
Years later after Dan settled in Newport, RI we reconnected and once again and I remember a number of good visits with him where we reconnected
immediately and enjoyed one another as before.
Rusty Chandler
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From a Feb 2001 visit by Becky, Dan and us to the Willauers at Prouts Neck, Me.
That was a fun party. We always loved going to visit Brad and Annie.
published a comment .
I was sorry to learn of Dan's death. Bill and I so enjoyed seeing him again in Newport several years ago, along with meeting Becky and seeing other family members. I didn't know that like Bill, Dan also had Parkinsons.
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Dan was the embodiment of "nature's nobleman." Kind, loving, humane, smart, thoughtful, loyal...you could not be with Dan without loving him. His father-in-law, Sid Horowitz, loved Dan, as did I. I know that Becky will miss him sorely, but all of us who knew him will cherish the memory of their loving marriage and of Dan himself. May he rest in peace.
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We are so saddened to read this. Wish we could be there with you Becky. Thinking of you. Lots If hugs.
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