Sweeney, William A.

— William Aldrich Sweeney, 88, of Saranac Lake and Menands, died of cancer at his home in Menands on October 24, 2021.

Bill was born in Hartford, Conn., on November 25, 1932, the son of Dorothy Augusta (Aldrich) Sweeney and John Francis Sweeney, and grew up in Longmeadow, Mass. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1954 he attended Columbia University where he received an MS in accounting in 1955. He worked for several years as a CPA for Price Waterhouse in New York City before moving with his family to Saranac Lake where he ran his own accounting firm for over 55 years

Bill is survived by his wife, Susan Young Sweeney; his sons and his daughters-in-law Bill Sweeney and Eliza Paley of New York City, John Sweeney and Lauren Mcgovern of Wilmington, N.Y., Ted Sweeney and Dominique Sweeney of Reno, Nev., and Josh Kinneston of Menands; his sister Joan Sweeney of Holyoke, Mass.; his grandchildren Tys Sweeney, Roxanne Sweeney, Delphine Sweeney, and Johanna Sweeney; and his former wife, Eleanor V. Sweeney. He was predeceased by his daughter-in-law Jana Behe-kinneston of Menands, his sister Dorothy Ann (D.A.) Sweeney of Saranac Lake, and his grandson Owen Mcgovern Sweeney of Wilmington.

Bill and Susan provided a loving retreat for their family and friends on Green Pond in Saranac Inn. There, Bill was able to lavish attention on his grandchildren: he could share his love of cooking and reading, teach them chess, provide them with the range of toys that grandparents love to do, and give them a place to boat and swim. He loved to travel, and the experiences he was able to share with his extended family are especially poignant memories. He and Susan would provide their children and grandchildren with gatherings in New York City and other parts of New York and New England. Over the years, Bill was a dear brother-in law and uncle to the Young family and loved sharing their explorations and enthusiasm.

He also served the community in many ways, most notably as a longtime board member of both The Saranac Lake Voluntary Health Association and Bionique Testing Laboratories. He partnered with Saranac Lake filmmaker Fred Sullivan to produce the films Cold River (1982) and The Beer Drinker’s Guide to Fitness and Filmmaking (1987). In partnership with Susan he also put to work his love of food and wine, establishing and managing for a number of years a well-regarded restaubenjamin;