Obituary of Patrick M. Sweeney

Patrick M. Sweeney, a long time resident of Amityville, passed away January 25, 2015, in Farmingdale after a long period of declining health. He was 87 years old, was preceded by his wife of 64 years, Audrey, in 2013, and is survived by his six children: Maureen McNichol, Patrick M. Sweeney (Billie), Theresa Sweeney-Cushen (Jack), Kathleen Donohue (John), Irene Sweeney (Bruce Hathaway), and Brian E. Sweeney (Jennifer); ten grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. A visitation will be held at Powell Funeral Home in Amityville on Sunday, February 1, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, and a funeral mass will be held at St. Martin of Tours RC Church in Amityville on Monday, February 2, 2015, at 9:30 am, followed by interment at Calverton National Cemetery. Patrick was born on February 10, 1927, in Brooklyn, the only child to Margaret O'Keefe Sweeney and Michael Sweeney, both born in Ireland. He attended public schools, where he learned electronics and build a small television set in the early 1940s, advanced technology for its day. After serving honorably in the U.S. Army in Italy at the end of World War II, Patrick married Audrey in February 1949, and began raising the family in Brooklyn, NY. In 1961, Audrey and Patrick relocated to Amityville and became active members of St. Martin's parish. Patrick used his skills in electronics and management in his nearly 40 year career at Pan American Word Airways, first as a radio mechanic, and retiring as director of avionics and component repair at world headquarters at JFK airport when Pan Am ceased operations. Those who worked with him knew Patrick as a strict overseer of safety and quality in the work to maintain Pan Am's global fleet of aircraft. His efforts contributed greatly to Pan Am's status as a world leader in air travel. At Pan Am, he helped introduce the world to safe and routine jet travel on the Boeing 707 and 747 aircraft when they were introduced into service first by Pan Am. In all his actions -- as a family man, a soldier, and an aviation expert -- Patrick made sure he fulfilled his responsibilities above and beyond the call of duty. After retiring, Audrey and Patrick became active in the Seniors Club at St. Martin's, and enjoyed sharing their time and talents in numerous volunteer activities. They also enjoyed regular visits to the south shore beaches. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of Audrey, a three-time cancer survivor, to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.