Charles Alexander Sweeney, Jr.

Charles Alexander Sweeney, Jr., 84, died in the presence of his loving family at 8:21 pm on Wednesday, December 28.  

Charles, known to most as Charlie, was the eldest of 9 children born to Charles and Helen (Burgess) Sweeney of South Bend, Indiana, on October 7, 1938 in South Bend. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1956 where he served as VP and President over his four years. He attended University of Dayton on a football scholarship (Class of 1961) and was President of his junior class. Charlie met Georgianna (Holmes) Sweeney while working on his undergraduate degree at Dayton. They married on June 17, 1961, at the Basilica of Notre Dame. While earning his degree, he and Georgia lived in a home next to the hotel they helped manage; owned by Charlie’s dad, the Blue & Gold Motel. He earned his JD from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1964 and was Class President his 3rd year of law school.  

Following graduation from law school, Charlie joined the United States Army. He was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant. He served in the Army for over 2 years as an officer in the Ordnance Corps. He was honorably discharged as Captain. 

Following his service in the Army, Charlie embarked on his professional law career joining Chuck Roemer in practice from 1966-1974 as Roemer and Sweeney. He was actively involved with the local community. Charlie held the role of St. Joseph Deputy Prosecutor from 1966-1970; and City Attorney, City of South Bend, in 1972. He served on several different occasions as President Board of Public Works & Safety for South Bend; Member St. Joseph City Bar Association; Member of Indiana State Bar Association. Charlie was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and Board of Directors, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association. He was a guest lecturer at Notre Dame Law School on various topics. His practice concentrated on Trial Law and he took over 100 cases to jury trial.

He was Partner of Sweeney, Butler and Simeri and Founding Partner of Sweeney & Pfiefer and founded the Sweeney Law Firm in 2000, with offices in South Bend and Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the first lawyer to advertise in Indiana. He retired from the practice of law in 2007.

In addition to his law career, Charles was a partner in ownership of Town & Country Shopping Center in Napanee, Indiana; partner Gingiss Formal Wear; and owner of Anything Grows Garden Center.

One of Charlie’s biggest accomplishments was having his 6 children with Georgia. He loved them immensely and always talked about how proud he was of each of them.

Charlie had a love of football and played in HS and at the University of Dayton. When recently asked him what he loved about football, he said 'everything'. He was certified by the National Football League as Player-Representative. Charlie founded the ND Quarterback Club with Coach Ara Parseghian in 1971. He founded Go Irish in 1980--a newspaper covering ND Sports. He served as owner, editor, writer and photographer then changed the name to Blue and Gold Illustrated in 1982. He built the subscription base to 12,000 and then sold the business.

He was nominated by the Football Hall of Fame Members: George Connor, ND; Jerry Groom, ND, and Coach John Ray, and received the great honor of an Honorary ND Monogram. Member of Leahy’s Lads; and Member of the NFL Alumni Association. He was certified as an NFL Players Association Sports Representative, has represented NFL draftees and professionals. In 1995 and 1996 he volunteered as High School Football coach at John Adams High School.

Other accolades include: President, Corvilla; President Northern Indiana Muscular Dystrophy Association. He was a Member of St. Vincent de Paul Society serving 20 years as President of the Sacred Heart Conference. He served on the Board of Advisors and Volunteer for the South Bend Homeless Center. He volunteered at Hospice. Served on the Advisory Board at Christ Child. He and Georgia held the role of President at Little Flower Catholic Church.

He loved the sun and the beach and the family vacationed annually in Sarasota, FL, on spring breaks. He and Georgia drove to family vacations in the GMC Jimmy van to Montana, Yellowstone, Gatlinburg, TN and later white-water rafting on the Colorado River and took his kids to Banff, Canada.  Some of the places he and Georgia went with friends or as a couple included: the Bahamas, Mexico, a trip down the Danube River, Bangkok and on a safari in Africa. In 1998, he brought the family to Paris with their spouses to celebrate the holidays and once took the entire family on a trip to Maui.

He was an insatiable reader and could recount the authors and subjects years after reading. He loved fly-fishing trips with friends, running races, sailing on Magician Lake, and played tennis for much of his life. He led by example and inspired us with his adventurous spirit, daily courage, quick-wit and selfless generosity. He rarely complained. He loved to decorate for the holidays, buy presents for his wife, dance and loved a good love song.

Charlie loved to travel to big games and events including: 5 Super Bowls, NBA Playoffs, US Tennis Open, 1989 Fiesta Bowl National Championship v. West Virginia; 1973 Sugar Bowl National Championship vs Alabama, 1990 Orange Bowl vs Colorado; the Rose Bowl - USC v Texas; 1968 World Series Detroit v St. Louis; Baseball All-Star Game at Comiskey Park; NCAA BB Championship Kansas V Duke (Indy); College Football All-Star Game (Chicago); many Cubs games, various golf outings to St. Andrew's; Pinehurst #2; and Pebble Beach, and multiple Indianapolis 500's. 

He is survived by 6 children, Kelley Sanders (Gary) of Denver, CO; Mary Eugster (John) of San Francisco, CA; Susan (PJ) Stoll of Attica, IN; Tom (Bridget) Sweeney of Southland, TX; Maureen (Adam) Spielman of River Forest, IL; and Kerry (Pete) Kuzmich of River Forest, IL; 13 grandchildren, Tiffany Iung; Makena and Lilly Eugster; Jackson and Carly Stoll; Liam, Joseph and Charlotte Sweeney; Benjamin, Sara and Alex Spielman; and Olivia and Charlie Kuzmich. He is also survived by 6 sisters and 2 brothers: Beverly (Jim) Crance, Barbara (Al) Belkin, Peggy Sweeney, Susie Evans, Kate (Carter) Henrich, Sheila (Craig) Allen, Mike (Joyce) Sweeney, and John (Terri) Sweeney and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 4-8 pm on Tuesday, January 3 at Palmer Funeral Homes - Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Rd, South Bend, IN 17131 Cleveland Road, 574-289-1000.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, January 4, at 9:30 am in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Notre Dame campus. Interment will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Center and the South Bend Center for the Homeless. 

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