Obituary: Michael J. Sweeney

Published 6:21 am Wednesday, September 24, 2008

PORTLAND – Michael J. Sweeney, 59, of Milwaukie, formerly of Heppner, died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland after battling Pick’s Disease. Recitation of the rosary will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Heppner. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the church, with burial following at the Heppner Masonic Cemetery.

Mr. Sweeney was born June 2, 1949, in Chicago, Ill., to Jerry and O.V. Tiny Harris Sweeney. He was raised in Butte, Mont., Ontario and Grants Pass before the family settled in Heppner, where he graduated from high school in 1967. He then attended the University of Oregon, graduating in three and a half years. He also attended colleges in Europe and Russia before entering Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, where he graduated in 1975. He was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 1976 and worked in a private law practice in Heppner from 1976-83. From 1983-89 he served as CEO and corporate counsel for a Portland advertising company.

In 1989, he began his work with the Oregon Attorney Assistance Program and worked for the last 18 years facilitating interventions, organizing support groups and providing empathy and guidance. He also was a an alcohol and drug counselor III. He helped Oregon become one of the first lawyer-assistance programs in the country to offer a wide range of services, including a “lawyer in transition program.”

He served as president of the board of the Columbia River chapter of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association and as president of the board of the Oregon Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction. In 1993, he co-founded the Oregon Partnership and served on the partnership’s board from 1993-97. He received the Oregon Partnership Leadership Award in 2001.

He also served as chair of the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs; served on the Governor’s Underage Drinking Task Force; was involved in the State Incentive Cooperative Agreement project to reduce the use of alcohol and drugs among youth; and served on a council for comprehensive legislation creating a support system for at-risk children and their families.

He served from 2001-03 on the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and on the Commission’s assistance program evaluation subcommittee. He also served on the ABA Standing Committee on Substance Abuse since 2004.

An avid golfer, he started the Jeff Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund. He was a proud Oregon Duck fan and was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He also enjoyed fly fishing and tying his own flies.

Mr. Sweeney is survived by daughters Kelly Burgoyne of Oregon City and Katie Sweeney of Milwaukie; sister Kathy Sunseri of Milwaukie; brothers Pat Sweeney of Heppner, Dan Sweeney of Hillsboro, Brian Sweeney of Portland, and Greg Sweeney of Milwaukie; three granddaughters; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Partnership, 6443 S.W. Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97221 or to the Jeff Turner-Michael Sweeney Scholarship Fund, c/o The Oregon Community Foundation, 1221 S.W. Yamhill St., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97205.

Sweeney Mortuary of Heppner is in charge of arrangements.