Bruce E. Sweeney

WINCHENDON - Bruce E. Sweeney, 69, of Winchendon, a long-time Industrial Arts Teacher, died Friday, October 3rd in the Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine. He was born in Goffstown, N.H. on July 21,1939, the son of the late William J. and Gertrude P. (Clark) Sweeney and had lived in Winchendon since 1965. Bruce dedicated his life to education and his family. He was a 1957 Graduate of Keene High School, where he was a member of its basketball and baseball teams, and a 1961 Graduate of Keene State Teachers College, where he was a member of its Varsity Basketball Team. Bruce had a gift of remembering something about every student he ever taught. He was very people oriented and had a gift of making his students feel very special. He began his career as a teacher of Industrial Arts in Mahwah High School in Mahwah, New Jersey. He came to this area in 1962, a year after the opening of Oakmont Regional High School in Ashburnham. He was instrumental in the formation of the Industrial Arts Department and became the school's Industrial Arts Director. He taught the subjects of wood, metals, drafting, drawing, auto mechanics and CAD drawing. As the school's director, he hired all of the teachers for this department. Bruce also taught Driver's Education for many years. In 1993, Bruce retired from his career of teaching at Oakmont, but he never stopped teaching. Bruce was very active in the community, serving as a Coach and former President of the Winchendon Little League. He was an active member of the Winchendon Lions Club. Bruce was a member of the Winchendon School Senior Golf League and a former member of the Winchendon Bowling League. The cause of Juvenile Diabetes was very special to his heart and he has been volunteering at several Juvenile Diabetes Walks in Portland , Maine over the years, and as recently as a week ago.. Bruce was an avid NASCAR and Dale Earnhart Sr. fan. He had a collection of NASCAR collectibles, models and hats. He made several trips to Loudon, NH Raceway, and also to races in Charlotte and Dover Raceways. Bruce loved classic cars and assembled his Corvette convertible, which he has owned for several years and delighted in taking his grandchildren for rides. He loved athletics and followed all of the New England professional sports teams, the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. Most recently, his grandchildren's passion for hockey brought him to the Boston Bruins, as well. In addition to his love of golf, he also enjoyed wood carving, fishing and fly tying. If it could be made, Bruce could make it. His greatest enjoyment came from spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. Through the years, he was part of hundreds of his children's and grandchildren's sporting, school and social events as a coach, cheerleader and mentor. Bruce leaves his loving wife of 43 years, Gloria A. (Lubelczyk) Sweeney; two children, Kimberly A. Samson and her husband Scott of Westminster; a son, Dr. Timothy W. Sweeney and his wife Caroline of Gray, Maine; a brother, William J. Sweeney Jr. of Dover, NH; two sisters, Patricia Russell and Donna Wood, both of Keene, NH; five grandchildren, Evan Samson, Brendan Samson, Aidan Sweeney, Michael Sweeney and Caitlin Sweeney, as well as nephews and nieces. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 8th from the Snow-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 A.M. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 52 Spruce Street. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Calling hours in the funeral home will be Tuesday, October 7th from 5 to 8 P.M. Memorial donations may be made to the JDRF-Aidan's Activists, 175 Ammon Drive Suite 201, Manchester, NH 03103 or to the Winchendon Lions Club, P.O. Box 406, Winchendon, MA. 01475. www.snow-ladeau.com