James Thomas Sweeney

1939 - 2025

James Thomas Sweeney
02/23/1939 - 10/22/2025
Passed away peacefully on October 22, 2025 at the age of 86. Beloved husband of Patricia Sweeney who were happily married for 65 wonderful years; loving father of Brian (Heidi), David, Karen, Mark (Gina), Joleen (Eric), and John. Caring Papa of 6 grandchildren: James, Hannah, Linzy, Drake, Elias, and Drea.
Born in San Francisco on February 23, 1939 to John and Marion "Thelma" Sweeney. Jim attended St. Cecilia Elementary and Riordan High School. He continued his education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and finished up at City College of San Francisco.
After years of various jobs--a local pet store, on the docks of SF, driving a truck or cleaning for Crown Carpets, he finally landed the career that would define him - as a fireman. Initially for the city of Palo Alto, then proudly for his own community in the San Francisco Fire Department for 30 years.
Throughout his life, Jim loved playing sports, excelling at football and track & field in high school. He also boxed for USF before competing in the Golden Gloves. When his playing days were over, he enjoyed watching his kids play-taking turns with Pat driving them to hundreds of practices at the crack of dawn and showing up at games up and down the peninsula. He was proud to say he never missed a game.
"Blue Eyes" loved his family vacations at Camp Mather, Twain Harte and Scotts Flat Lake, and trips with the extended family at the cabins in Rough and Ready, Calistoga and Brookdale. All were the backdrop of endless stories and adventures. Later, he and Pat loved taking road trips to Spring Training in Arizona and touring the country visiting 45 of the 50 states.
Between trips Jim and Pat found the time to carve out a weekend island getaway for themselves and their kids under the palms of the Delta-with the appropriate nickname- Manhattan Island.
His later years were spent in the garden where he and Pat could tend to their tomatoes, artichokes and flowers, while listening to a Giants game or Johnny Cash and sharing the backyard with birds, cats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and his arch enemy…the squirrel.
Jim loved his family, his friends, his job and all his dogs. He will be missed.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, December 2nd at 10:30am at St. Cecilia Church, 2555 17th Ave., San Francisco. Donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY, 10306 or donationsupport@t2t.org