Rear Admiral John J. Sweeney of Wynnewood, PA has dropped anchor in his final port. The rough seas are behind him. Admiral Sweeney shipped out for his best tour of duty on January 4, 2016, where he will be welcomed by many friends and family members that he hasn't seen in years. He was 85 years old.

In a distinguished career, that combined military service with private sector accomplishment, Admiral Sweeney also served as an advocate for young people and the less fortunate.

John Joseph Sweeney was born in the town of Tamaqua, Schuykill County, PA on June 10, 1930 and came to Philadelphia with his family as a ten year old. Young Jack attended St. Alice School in Upper Darby, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Overbrook, before attending Malvern Preparatory School, where he played football. He subsequently transferred to St. Joseph's Preparatory School, where he graduated in 1948. After graduation, he attended St. Joseph's College. He graduated from St. Joe's as a member of the class of 1952 with a degree in Economics. Throughout his school years he worked part time in a variety of jobs ranging from grocery store clerk to caddy at Overbrook Golf Club to a laborer carrying bricks on construction sites. The pressures of doing well academically, while at the same time working to afford schooling, prepared him for his subsequent balancing of dual careers in uniform and the business world.

The Korean War was underway when Admiral Sweeney graduated from college, he was chosen for Navy Officers Candidate School in Newport Rhode, Island, and was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. He served as fire control officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa (CVS-40) with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and later served with the 7th Fleet in Korea, Japan, Australia, and off the coast of China. He was then assigned as an administrative officer to the Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Admiral Sweeney attended the Naval War College, the Army War College and the National Defense University. He left the service in 1957 but was recalled to active duty shortly
afterwards as part of the U.S. response to the building of the Berlin Wall by the Soviet Union. He served on the USS Kidd (DD-661), a Philadelphia-based destroyer. Upon returning to civilian life for the second time he continued serving in the Naval Reserve as a Commanding Officer of several Reserve units.

He was selected to the rank of Rear Admiral in 1983. He then served as Naval Reserve Readiness Commander, Region Four, headquartered at the Philadelphia Naval Base where he was responsible for some 5,000 Naval Reservists. He was twice Chairman of the National Naval Forces Reserve Policy Board and then appointed as the Navy representative on the Armed Forces Policy Board reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense. His final assignment was Commander, Military Sealift Command, Europe, based in London. Rear Admiral Sweeney's decorations include the Legion of Merit (twice), Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal.

Admiral Sweeney's business career was marked by 27 years with Marsh & McLennan where he was Vice President for Sales and then a Principal of the William Mercer office in Philadelphia. During his tenure with Marsh he earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designations from the Graduate Studies School at the University of Pennsylvania. He retired in 1990.

His adult career was marked by a concurrent commitment to developing the self-confidence and abilities of young people. During the years when his sons were playing football, he served as assistant coach at St. Margaret's School in Narberth. He was personal excellence officer for the Chief of Naval Operations charged with designing and implementing programs for Naval Reservists to assist youngsters. He was director of the National Sea Cadets. Admiral Sweeney was a longtime member of the Union League of Philadelphia's Youth Work Program and Foundation. He was also a strong supporter of the midshipmen in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) at both Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania. He also served as Commissioning Chairman of USS Gettysburg (CG-64) when the ship was commissioned in Philadelphia.

At the Union League of Philadelphia he served on the board of directors and as vice chairman of the Armed Services committee. He was a member of the admissions committee, the finance committee, the glee club and the Kindergarten Club. He was a former president of the Benson Table as well as the Hearth Club at the League.

Admiral Sweeney was a longtime member of the Men of Malvern, Catholic League, the American Legion and many other military and community organizations. He was past president of the Shortridge Civic Association in Wynnewood and past president of the Philadelphia Council of the Navy League.

Admiral Sweeney is survived by his wife, the former Ann Louisa Willcox and sons John J., Jr. (Jeanne), David C. (Stephanie) and Katherine W. Sweeney. Loving grandfather of Christina, Kaelyn and Meghan Sweeney. Also survived by his sister Marianne FitzPatrick (Fenton).

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday January 8, 12 Noon at Presentation B.V.M. Church, 240 Haverford Rd., Wynnewood. Relatives and friends may call at the Church after 10 AM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's Preparatory School, 1733 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130 and/or Malvern Retreat House, PO Box 315, Malvern, PA 19355.