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Obituary for Gregory N. Sweeny
St. Albans, VT - Greg was born in St. Albans, Vermont in 1948, living in Enosburg Falls, Vermont for five years, then grew up in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, graduating from Saint Johnsbury Academy in 1966. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Vermont (UVM) in 1970. During his senior year he was president of the UVM chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and was a lifetime member of that society.
Following graduation he joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and served as a Civil Engineer on various projects in the New England Region. His work while in the New England Region consisted of performing site surveys, designing and planning and inspecting a wide variety of construction projects to support the installation of airway navigation and communication systems. In 1980, Greg became a licensed Professional Civil Engineer and was selected to attend the University of California at Berkeley earning a Master of Science in Air Transportation and Construction Management in 1981.
Following completion of his Masters Degree program in 1981, Greg moved to Schaumburg, Illinois where he served as a civil engineering program manager at the FAA's Great Lakes Region, Chicago Airports District Office, retiring in October 2011 with 41 years of service. During his time in the Chicago area his work consisted of assisting regional airport owners and technical staffs throughout the State of Indiana, and the Indiana State Aeronautics department on airport projects and enhancements. He administered the Airport Development Aid Program (ADAP), Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the Passenger Facility Program (PFC), airport planning (Master Plans and Airport Layout Plans), and oversaw the projects to ensure conformity to FAA standards. Projects included runway, taxiway and apron construction and lighting, instrument and visual navigational aid establishments, land acquisition, and terminal building construction. This work included airport master planning and airport layout planning, capital improvement programming, issuing FAA grants, reviewing plans and specifications and overseeing construction.
Greg was recognized throughout the mid-western area for excellence and received many awards, including election to the Air Transportation System Specialist Program (1980), Aviation Association of Indiana Special Recognition Award (1996), Airport Consultants Council Best Practices Award (2005), Aviation Association of Indiana Person of the Year Award (2010), and South Bend Airport Stakeholder of the Year (2010).
He is predeceased by his parents, Dr. Howard and Jacquelyn Sweeny and brother, Craig, all formerly of Barre, VT. He is survived by brothers Bruce of Woodstock, VA and Chris of Tallahassee, FL. , niece Dawn Sweeny Aponte of Chantilly, VA and nephew Bruce Sweeny, Jr. of Arlington, VA. Greg lived a simple, disciplined lifestyle, made many life-long friends in the FAA and aviation community in general and was a generous philanthropist, donating significant funds to the UVM civil engineering program and to Saint Johnsbury Academy.
The family plans to honor Greg with a memorial and burial service in Saint Albans, Vermont.
Messages of condolence to Greg’s family are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com
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