Gordon Johnstone Sweeney

Gordon Johnstone SweeneyGordon Johnstone Sweeney, 80, of 3 Watson Street, Newport, died Monday, March 12, 2007.He was the husband of Ellen F. Quigley Sweeney of Newport, RI.Born in Newport, RI, he was the son of the late Ivan F. Sweeney and Margaret M. Rouxell Sweeney. Mr. Sweeney was employed by the former Newport Electric Company for forty-five years and retired as a Supervisor of the meter department. Gordon was a graduate of Rogers High School class of 1944, where he played the clarinet in the band. He served in the United States Merchant Marines from 1944-1946. He was a communicant of St. Lucy?s Church. He was a life member and held many positions at the Newport Elks over the years and volunteered anytime he could at the Newport Lodge of Elks. He was a member of the Newport Hospital Auxiliary were he received a pin for over 8, 000 hours volunteered time and was voted Auxiliary Volunteer of the year in 1998. Mr. Sweeney also worked with Festival Productions for over 53 years working various positions throughout the East Coast. He also worked at the former Vernon Court, Salve Regina University and Rogers High School in the Drama Department as the lighting director. Gordon was also the director, organizer and coordinator for the Newport Jazz ?Friday Night? at the casino. He was a member of the Edward King Senior Center; the FOPA; and the Kiwanis Club of Newport; Newport Knights of Columbus and had served on the Newport Planning Board. During the 1960?s he was involved with the ?Jay C?s?. Mr. Sweeney was also the owner and operator of several taverns in the Newport area. Gordon is survived by his daughter Jane Ellen Sweeney and her husband Robert F. Kent of Newport, RI and his grandson Mackenzie Robert Kent and granddaughter Hillary Jane Kent both of Newport. He leaves his nephew Paul Sweeney of Ledyard, CT and his niece Gale Sweeney Ernest of Middletown, RI and two grand nephews Douglas Ernest of Newport, RI and Brian Ernest of Middletown; his grand niece Christine Tourigney of Ledyard , CT.He was the father of the late Jeffrey Gordon Sweeney. He was the brother of the late Ivan F. Sweeney Jr., Elsie Sweeney White and Madeline Sweeney Silvia.A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 9:00am in St. Lucy?s Church, 909 West Main Road, Middletown, RI .Donations may be made in his memory to the Newport Lodge of Elks, Children?s Christmas Fund, 141 Pelham Street, Newport, RI . Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery in Portsmouth, RI. Arrangements are by the Memorial Funeral Homes 375 Broadway Newport, RI. Condolences, information and directions available at www.memorialfuneralhome.com