Brian Patrick Sweeny

Brian Patrick Sweeny, 34, of Spokane, WA died on June 29, 2013. Diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and given only 15 months to live when he was 28, he beat all odds by living 6 more years doing the things he loved. When Brian was given his prognosis in 2007, he quickly replied, " I don't believe in statistics!" and proved to everyone that statistics are just that. Reflective of his personality, when Brian put his mind to something he did whatever he could for the best outcome.
Born in Seattle, WA on April 17, 1979 to Kevin and Donna Sweeny, Brian moved with his family to Modesto, CA in 1982 and lived there until 1990 when they moved to Spokane. He went to All Saints Catholic School from sixth through eighth grade and graduated as Salutatorian from Gonzaga Preparatory School in 1997. Brian received a degree in Communications (Video Production) from Santa Clara University in 2001 and graduated Magna Cum Laude.
After graduation and a subsequent trip to Europe, Brian moved to Los Angeles to fulfill his dream of working in the entertainment industry. After waiting tables, he found employment as a production assistant on the TV Series, Fear Factor, and quickly worked his way up to Stunt Producer. He worked in that position until the show ended in 2006. After that, he tried his hand at movie making and worked on various other shows and commercials. Even though he loved his work, he did not let it define who he was. He loved all aspects of his life in LA, which included surfing, basketball, and beach volleyball. He had a very adventurous spirit and spent much of his yearly hiatuses from Fear Factor, traveling, sometimes for pleasure and sometimes for work. One of his most memorable trips was to Thailand in 2003 where he taught English to non-English speaking Thai people.
Among Brian's most wonderful qualities was his ability to make friends. He loved people, and if you were lucky enough to get to know him and become his friend, you were a friend for life. He was creative in his thinking and never lacked entertaining himself and others. All who came to know him found his wit, humor and charm endearing. He maintained friendships from every aspect of his life and continued to keep them up until he could no longer do so, but that did not stop his friends from visiting, emailing and texting him until the end. They were a vital part of his life and they stood beside him and encouraged him during his most difficult times, no matter how far away they lived.
Brian was also the most loving and caring son a parent could ask for. He often worried about his parents and was never afraid to express his concerns. He was easy to raise and had the intelligence, even as a teenager, to listen to what his parents had to say, and then form his own opinion. During the last six years he became his mothers' constant companion and encouraged her to do things she would not ordinarily do. Taking trips to Belize and the British Virgin Islands and moving to LA for six months so Brian could work one last time. Knowing the pain in his mothers' heart, he helped her get through some of the most difficult times in her life. This caring nature could also be seen in his relationship with his brothers. Whether it was guiding his younger brother Kyle, or being there for his older brother Paul, his generosity & companionship to his brethren was always apparent.
In high school, Brian turned out for the freshman basketball team only to be turned away. He did not let this get him down and committed to work hard and make the team the next year. His hard work paid off and he made the B squad his Sophomore year and then the varsity team his Junior and Senior year. His story was used as an example by coaches at G-Prep for many years after, about how with fortitude and determination one can accomplish their dreams. Brian was a devoted fan of G-Prep basketball and football, going so far as to make his parents hold the phone to the radio so he could listen to games from LA.
Brian was also an avid Seahawks fan and in spite of the fact that he went to Santa Clara University, he learned to love the Zags, but only when they were not playing the Broncos. He stayed true to his team in that instance.
From the time Brian was a baby, Priest Lake was in his blood. He cherished any time he could spend there and always made certain to be there every summer no matter what other obligations he had. When he had grown up, he loved to spend time in the winters there by himself making up and writing stories that entertained all of his friends and family.
He was an avid writer and kept historical journals of his life from the time he moved to Spokane in 1990 until he was no longer able to. His entries are heartwarming, funny and sentimental, as was he.
His mother and father, Kevin and Donna Sweeny and two brothers, Paul D (Bellevue, WA) and Kyle J (Spokane), survive Brian. His two grandmothers, Gladys H Urbaniak and Lillian A Sweeny and seven aunts, six uncles and nineteen cousins also survive him. His two grandfathers, Raymond J Urbaniak and Jerome L Sweeny, met him in heaven upon his death.
There are people who touch many lives during their time on earth and Brian was one of them. He was so loved and he loved so many and will be missed more than is conceivable.
A special thanks to Dr Kirk Lund who spent countless hours at all times of the day talking to doctors at Duke and UCLA and the U of W making sure we were always on the cutting edge of treatment. Also, for reading everything we threw at him and looking into it and agreeing to try things that were not necessarily standard treatment. Many thanks to the nursing staff at RWC Cancer Treatment Center, most especially, Lisa, Pam and Sandy who worked with Brian for so many years and showed compassion beyond words. Special thanks go out to Jane, Sherri, Dawn and Jennifer at Hospice of Spokane whom we grew to admire.
The family asks that any remembrances on Brian's behalf be made to: Gonzaga Preparatory School, Brian Sweeny Memorial Fund, 1224 E. Euclid Ave., Spokane, WA 99207; Providence Health Care Foundation, 101 W. 8th Ave., Spokane, WA 99204 (on-line at PHCFoundationEW@providence.org), or Hospice of Spokane, 121 S. Arthur, PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210 (on-line at hospiceofspokane.org).
A Funeral Mass will take place on July 12, 2013 at 10:30 am at St. Aloysious Church on the Gonzaga Campus. A Graveside Service will follow at 1:00 pm at Queen of Peace Cemetery, 6910 S. Ben Burr Rd., Spokane.