William E. Sweeney, a retired oral-maxillofacial surgeon died peacefully on July 25, 2026. In recent months, he had been lovingly cared for at home and more recently in long-term care, while suffering from dementia and aphasia.
Born in Lowell on May 2, 1942, Bill was the third of six children of the late Dr. Joseph D. Sweeney and the late Helen (Callahan) Sweeney He graduated from the Sacred Heart Parish Grammar School in 1956 where he was a member of the parish band and Boy Scout Troop No.36.
Bill graduated from Keith Academy in 1960 and from Boston College in 1964 with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. Following college, he taught Chemistry at Lowell High School until 1966 when he continued his education at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He received his D.M.D. / Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in 1970.
While at Tufts, Bill was one of three classmates selected for an externship at the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home Dental Clinic at Quigley Memorial Hospital. All three later became oral surgeons. He was inducted into the Delta Sigma Delta fraternity and into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, a dental honors society. At the Tufts graduation ceremony, he received the Alumni Association Award for Clinical Proficiency in Oral Surgery. Bill completed his residency through the Tufts Service at the former Boston VA Hospital, Boston City Hospital, and Tufts New England Medical Center.
In 1973, he began his solo private practice in Methuen and eventually became the founding partner of Methuen Oral Surgery Associates, PC. During his career, he practiced in association or in partnership at various times with Drs. Lisa A. White, Karen E. Crowley, Michael T. Shannon and Francis R. Grzejka. When Dr. White joined the practice, she became the first female oral surgeon to practice in the Merrimack Valley.
After retiring from clinical practice, Bill continued working in a limited, part-time capacity at the request of Dr. Grzejka, assisting with some of the business aspects of the practice. Bill enjoyed this work and was grateful to Frank for his thoughtfulness. He continued in this role until the age of 81, giving him a continuous 50-year association with the practice he founded, something that was very meaningful to Bill.
Bill was a senior staff member at the Lawrence General Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, formerly Bon Secour Hospital in Methuen. During his tenure, he served on several medical staff committees at both hospitals.
He was also one of the original partners in the Andover Surgical Day Care Center, Inc. which opened in 1985 as the first free-standing, same-day surgery facility in this area of Massachusetts.
Professionally, Bill was a fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and a member of the Massachusetts Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He was also a life member of the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society, and the Merrimack Valley District Dental Society and St. Apollonia’s Guild.
Bill was an avid, lifelong reader with a particular interest in history and science. For more than 50 years, he conducted an extensive and in-depth study of the American Civil War in all its aspects. He visited many sites and battlefields associated with the conflict from St. Albans, VT to New Orleans.
Bill first met his beloved wife Marie in 1947 when they were five-year- old kindergarten students at the Sacred Heart School. They met again in 1964, when both were first-year teachers at Lowell High School. They married in 1967 while Bill was in his second year at Tufts. They lived most of their lives in North Tewksbury where they raised their two sons, Billy and Teddy.
Together, Bill and Marie enjoyed a lifetime of travel. They spent at least twenty vacations in Canada’s Maritime Provinces, especially Nova Scotia. On many of those trips they were accompanied by Billy and Teddy.
They visited the entire southern tier of Canada, from Newfoundland to British Columbia, traveling by airplane, train, ship, and automobile. They also spent several vacations in Ireland. One of those trips was made particularly special as they were accompanied by their boys and Marie’s parents, James and Marie Kirwin. Their travels also included England, Scotland, the Netherlands, and France, as well as several cruises.
Marie accompanied Bill to many of his professional conventions and continuing education seminars. They often stayed an additional day or two, which gave them the opportunity to visit and learn about most of the major American cities, from New York City to Honolulu.
In addition to his wife Marie, Bill is survived by his sons William J. “Billy” Sweeney and his spouse Christin Fetterolf of Lanesborough and Edward J. “Ted” Sweeney and his wife Nicole (Phaneuf) Sweeney of Longmeadow.
He is also survived by his grandchildren Abigail R. Sweeney of Boston, Hannah J. Sweeney of Lexington, Eva S. Sweeney and Max J. Sweeney of Longmeadow.
Bill leaves his brothers Joseph D. Sweeney and his wife Paula (Deignan) Sweeney of Dracut and Atty. Thomas E. Sweeney of Lowell and his partner, Linda Diefendorf of Maine.
Additionally, Bill is survived by many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by his sister Miriam A. (Sweeney) Murphy and her husband, Hugh F. Murphy of Tampa, FL, his brother George L. Sweeney and his wife Marvalee (Kalima) Sweeney of Maui, HI, and his sister Helen “Cathy” Sweeney of Andover, and his brothers-in-law James J. Kirwin Jr. of Manchester, NH, Thomas Owens of Florida and Francis “Frank” Keilty of Lowell.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to any of the following scholarships which Bill was instrumental in establishing, or to a charity of their choice:
Dr. Joseph D. Sweeney Science Award
A scholarship for L.H.S. graduates planning a career in the sciences.
c/o Greater Lowell Community Foundation 169 Merrimack Street, Lowell MA 01852
Father Edward Randall, OMI Scholarship
For grammar school graduates admitted to Lowell Catholic High School
c/o Lowell Catholic High School 530 Stevens Street / Lowell MA 01851
Robert ”Doc” McAnespie Scholarship
For Lowell Catholic High School graduates admitted to a college or university
c/o Lowell Catholic High School 530 Stevens Street / Lowell MA 01851
On Saturday August 15, 2026, family and friends are invited to a visitation from 9am-12:00pm followed by a funeral Mass of Christian Burial at the Immaculate Conception Church*, 144 East Merrimack Street, Lowell. Burial to follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Tewksbury. *The Immaculate is accessible by elevator from the East Merrimack Street/side parking lot or by directly using the Fayette Street side door.