James F. Sweeney

JAMES F. SWEENEY, age 92, of Highland Heights, passed away peacefully on February 7, 2025; He was the loving husband for 59 years of Pamela (nee Parker) and cherished father of Kathleen Guarente (husband Garry), James F. (wife Shari), Lynn McMahon (husband Louis), Anne Mooney (husband John), Laura Shewalter (husband Frank), and Jacqueline Sweeney (husband Mark Rogozinski); devoted grandfather of 11 and great grandfather of 1; treasured son of the late James F. "Bud" and Helen (nee Primosch); dearest brother of the late Terence and Patricia Hanson (husband Norman "Slim" deceased); dear uncle and great uncle of many.

Jim and Pam, who met on a blind date, were active members of St. Margaret Mary and St. Francis of Assisi parishes.

Jim was a graduate of Cathedral Latin High School (1950) and John Carroll University (1954) and then served as an Army counterintelligence officer from 1954-56. He graduated from Western Reserve University School of Law (1959) with Order of the Coif and Student of the Year awards. In 1966 he received his Master of Law degree from Case Western Reserve University.

From 1959 to 1966 he was assistant general counsel for the Cleveland Transit System (later Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority). In 1967 he joined the law firm of Hauxhurst, Sharp, Mollison and Gallagher (now Gallagher, Sharp) where he practiced law for 32 years, retiring in 1999. He represented defendants in product liability, personal injury, medical malpractice and industrial litigation. In 1984 he was elected by his peers to the American College of Trial Lawyers.

After retirement, he lectured for nearly 20 years as part of the Institute for Learning in Retirement at Baldwin-Wallace University, speaking on such subjects as American history, Irish history and the U.S. Supreme Court.

He wishes everyone a holy and happy life.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of James to the Cleveland Food Bank, 13815 Coit Rd, Cleveland, Ohio 44110 or to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, PO Box 72101, Cleveland, Ohio 44192.

Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at 10 AM. Interment at All Souls Cemetery at a later date. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of James at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) TUESDAY 4-7 PM.