Obituary: Sweeny, Brian Patrick
Age 34
He was 28 when he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and given only 15 months to live, beating all odds by living six more years doing the things he loved.
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, 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.
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.
All who came to know him found his wit, humor and charm endearing.
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.
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 and companionship to his brethren was always apparent.
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.
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 and 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 and Sherri, and 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 Prep, Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital or Hospice of Spokane.
A funeral Mass will take place on Friday, July 12, 2013 at 10:30 am at St. Aloysious Church on the Gonzaga campus.
For more information on Brian’s life and funeral plans please visit the Heritage Funeral Home website at www.heritagefunerals.com.