| Graduation Year | Faculty |
| Date of Passing | Oct 25, 2001 |
| About | BEN SWEENEY, EDUCATOR KNOWN FOR GOOD HUMOR POET'S HOBBIES INCLUDED MUSIC, COLLECTING It is perhaps the highest compliment for an educator, and Ben Sweeney heard it often during and after his 35 years as a teacher and principal in Santa Clara County schools. ''I can remember many times when people would stop him and say, 'Oh, Mr. Sweeney, I just want to tell you what a difference you made in my life,' '' recalled his son, Jeff Sweeney, 42, of Portland. A devoted educator, award-winning poet, inveterate collector, fine writer and lover of art and music, Mr. Sweeney died Nov. 18 of complications from Parkinson's and heart disease. He was 85. Born in Nevada City in 1916, Mr. Sweeney won a scholarship to study for the Methodist ministry. All that changed when he met the love of his life and married in 1938, his son said. Ben and Dora Sweeney honeymooned in Death Valley and returned every year thereafter, for he loved the desert like some people love the sea, his family said. The couple settled in San Jose, where Dora Sweeney worked as a telephone operator to support his studies. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English from San Jose State College and earned a master's degree in education at Stanford University. The family moved to Campbell, and stayed, in 1959. The Army drafted him during World War II, but the war ended before he was shipped overseas. That's when his teaching career, which runs in the family, began. At least nine members of the family were involved in education in Santa Clara County, including his brother, William G. Sweeney, after whom the education building at San Jose State University is named. Mr. Sweeney began teaching English and theater at Menlo Preparatory Academy in Palo Alto and then at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Jose. He was named principal at Woodrow Wilson Jr. High School in 1949 and later became principal of San Jose High School, where he was known for fairness, good humor and attending every after-school event, often with his family. In 1960, he became principal at Pioneer High School. Two years later, he took over vocational, evening adult and summer school programs at San Jose City College. Before retiring in 1975, he had expanded apprenticeship programs and created the city college's first satellite campus. His interests outside of education were varied and fascinating. ''What made him tick was his love of what was novel; he liked to do new and different things, unique things,'' Jeff Sweeney said. He played the musical saw, for example, at festivals in Oregon and Santa Cruz, and the glass harmonica, partially filled glasses that produce notes when struck. He collected stamps, coins and World War II headlines and posters. A boyhood passion for autographs followed him into adulthood and produced a collection of 1,000, including Orville Wright, Rudyard Kipling, Babe Ruth and Sen. John Glenn. His Jack London collection included first editions of all the author's workand is now part of Jack London Library in Oakland. And in 1965, his miniature replica firearms collection was featured on the cover of the Sunday magazine of the Mercury News. But his favorite pastime was writing, poetry in particular. Family members eagerly awaited birthday, anniversary, retirement and Christmas cards, each with an original poem. He kept up the Christmas card tradition for 28 years, his family said. Although his poetry won awards, including the California Federation of Chaparral Poets' top prize in 1973 and 1984, he was modest about his talents. ''I am not a poet,'' he'd say, ''I just rhyme lines.'' Nephew Don Sweeney of Corralitos was six years his junior and looked up to the uncle who used to take him as a child to the boxing matches at San Jose State College. ''He was a great guy and everybody liked him,'' he said. San Jose Mercury News (CA) - November 25, 2001 PHOTO: SweeneyEdition: Morning Final Page: 7B |
