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IN MEMORY ... Pat Sweeney: 'Positively Impacted More People Than He May Have Ever Realized' December 27, 2018  Note: As the voice-over community mourns the passing of Pat Sweeney, we reprint with permission yesterday's blog by one of Pat's many friends, Peter K. O'Connell ...By Peter K. O'Connell Voice Actor Oh Canada. You've lost a great one. In the 8+ years that I have been friends with Pat Sweeney, he had
become one of those rare fellows of whom I only heard positive, kind
words said. Marking his passing from cancer yesterday morning, those kind words are
being reiterated and certainly shouted from the roof tops. As they
should. Family was first and foremost to Pat, as he would often speak of his wife and sons. They were his everything. But second, I think, was his love of the voice-over industry and of
the community that Patrick Sweeney helped foster in Toronto and pretty
much everywhere else he went. Before I moved to Raleigh, NC, I lived most of my life in Buffalo,
NY, nearby to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where Pat and his family live. My affinity for Canada is well known (my Grandmother was born there and I
spent my summers in Fort Erie, Ontario for decades). So I was
especially happy to hear many years ago that a pair of my voice-over
friends had gotten together in Toronto to create a local Voiceover
Meetup Group called VO in TO. One of the group's founders was female voice talent Jodi Krangle. The
other (and to hear Jodi tell it, a driving force behind the group) was
Pat Sweeney. To watch Pat navigate the room at a VO in TO meetup was a thing of
beauty. If you didn't know Pat before you walked through the door, you
would know him by the time you left. And he would introduce you to one
or two other people there whom he thought you should know, so you could
have someone to say hi to at the next meeting. Pat was a wonderful
community builder. Another voice-over group where we shared many happy times together was
at an annual event called FaffCon. This is a wonderful group of talents
from all over the world who would come together to share best practices
in a very inclusive and welcoming format. It was an event tailor made
for Pat, who certainly learned a great deal from his fellow voice
talents, but possibly shared even more, especially in one on one
conversations. Pat's supportive and encouraging spirit, attitude and
actions positively impacted more people than he may have ever realized. All of this ignores when Pat and I would chat about his visits to
Buffalo or mine to TO. Or when we worked together as part of a voice-over
marketing collective called MVO: The Voice-Over Guys. Or when he would
commiserate with me on the phone about my (usually losing) Buffalo
sports teams. You always left a conversation with Pat feeling better. All of this kindness and help from Pat made it so challenging for us
(his VO pals) when Pat got sick and we couldn't help the guy who had
always helped us. There wasn't much we could do but support and pray for
Pat and his family.
Hard as we'd pray, it never felt like enough of a repayment for a
gentleman who so positively impacted so many people. We are deeply sorry
for his family's loss but are grateful for their many family memories
and for Pat's final peace. Me? I'm selfish. I will miss my friend. Eternal rest grant to your servant Patrick, O Lord; and let perpetual
light shine upon him. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful
departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. |
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I for one will continue to "Pat others on the back" and try to be as encouraging and kind as Patrick Sweeney, may he rest in peace.
I will so miss my dear friend. What's been great to hear is how he had special relationships with everyone. He made everyone feel special. It was so hard watching him decline. A powerhouse of a man who would push you with the greatest of love and respect. They'll never be another person like Pat Sweeney, but he left us an example of how we should all be. I know I'm a better person because of him. To lose him so young is a tragedy. To have been his friend was a blessing. He will always be with me and all of us. You just can't forget a guy like that. Here's to you Pat!
I feel a hole in my heart and will miss him as I know many, many others will too.
He was kind, warm, generous, funny and very very talented. Much love to his family in these hard times.
We hadn't talked for a while so I didn't even know he was sick.
Pat to me meant everything good I could imagine in a Canadian man.
Such a sweet, lovable, entertaining guy. We talked in long spurts at VO conferences but I regret that we never sat down for "that beer" we always talked about.
Rest in peace, Pat. God bless your family.
And thank you, Peter, for making us aware.