Dean Sweeney Jr., brother of the late Craig Sweeney, died August 27, 2006 of a heart attack. Dean was born January 8, 1943.
Both Dean and Craig were founding members of the Santa Monica Rugby Club and helped the club to its many successes in its early years.
Dean attended Stanford University on a football scholarship and learned his rugby there before attending graduate school at University of Southern California. He played for Eagle Rock Rugby Club before joining Santa Monica.
Dean was an outstanding prop in a scrum where five of the eight forwards were Eagles. Dean was a club member in the best sense of the word. On the field he gave his all and off the field he was a tireless worker. He will be remembered for his good nature and good humor. When his brother Craig died, he formed the Dean Jr. and Craig Sweeney Fund to assist the Santa Monica Rugby Club’s finances.
In an emotional tribute to his brother, Dean donated the jersey in which Craig played his last game for Santa Monica to the club before Santa Monica’s championship D1 game in 2005. Dean was present to see his last game when Santa Monica repeated as National Champion this year.
Dean is survived by his wife Melodie, their son Kristopher, Dean’s son Dean III, his stepson Bretton Link and his sister Wendy Peni.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that a tax-deductible donation be made to: Santa Monica Rugby Club (Sweeney Family Fund), 2427 Centinela Avenue, Suite D, Santa Monica, CA 90405
