Obituary of Charles William Sweeney Jr.

Charles William Sweeney, Jr., Esq.

Husband, father, grandfather, trial attorney, rower, 84

December 13, 1939 – January 4, 2024

Charles Sweeney, 84, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, surrounded by his family. Born December 13, 1939, he was the son of the late Charles W. Sweeney, Esq., a prominent Philadelphia attorney and state legislator, and the late Regina Ashe Sweeney McCarter, a dietician. Born, raised, and educated in Philadelphia, PA, he completed grade school at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Fairmount, graduated from high school at Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School, and completed undergraduate studies at Saint Joseph’s University. He then went on to earn his law degree at Temple University. At the Prep and in college, Charles was a national champion rower. Later in life, Charles loved to travel around the country and abroad, especially to Ireland, England, and Italy, but his heart and home were always in Philadelphia (and the Shore).

Charles is survived by his loving wife, dinner date, and travel partner of 39 years, Carol Ann Meehan, of Allentown, PA, and their two sons, Shannon (Maureen) and Kyle (Katarina). He is survived by his first wife, Sandra Lockhart, and their sons, Charles, III (Patricia), Christian (Alicia), and daughter, Alissandra (Martin). He is also survived by his sisters, Judith Riley, Mary Clare Hogan, and brother, Daniel. He was predeceased by siblings, Jean Cummins, John T. Sweeney, and Regina Ashe Sweeney Pape.

“Pops”, as he was affectionately known by his 14 grandchildren—Jacqueline, Timothy, Sean, Matthew, Christian, Caitlin, Justin, Andrew, Chelsea, Kiersten, Finnegan, Nathan, Cavan, and Kieran (and a soon-to-arrive baby boy), loved cooking family Sunday dinners, attending grandkids’ youth sports & performances, and watching family beach wiffleball & two-hand touch during the family’s annual summer pilgrimage to Sea Isle City, NJ.

As a young adult, Charles worked all over the city and the Jersey shore as a Longport beach lifeguard, substitute teacher, postal worker, and brewery worker. He spent the majority of his professional career as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia. For over 30 years he fought in the courtroom to secure justice for his city and its crime victims. He is survived professionally by generations of litigators and judges throughout the Commonwealth, that he trained and mentored to provide fierce, respectful, and honorable advocacy.

Friends may call from 9:00-10:15am, on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, 119 Rector Street, Philadelphia, PA, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30am. Interment will be private on a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution in Charles’ memory to the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia (phillypal.org), Philadelphia City Rowing (philadelphiacityrowing.org), or the charity of your choice.