AFL-CIO HIT Mourns the Passing of Labor Leader John Sweeney

The AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust is greatly saddened by the passing of our long-time colleague and trusted adviser, Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus John Sweeney.  John was truly a giant of the labor movement and the HIT was fortunate to work alongside him for decades.   A Trustee since the HIT’s inception in 1984 and Board Chair for many years, John played a vital role in HIT’s growth and success for more than 30 years.  His vision and counsel helped advance the HIT’s commitment to upholding labor’s values while building our participants’ financial security and creating family-supporting union jobs and affordable and workforce housing in communities across the U.S.

John was not only a colleague he was also a friend and an inspiration for so many in and around the labor movement.  He defined success by the improvements he forged for others and spoke as often about where he came from as where he was going.  We will miss John and wish his family all the comfort and blessings that comes from a lifelong dedication to the labor movement and to social justice.  His impact will endure through the work of the HIT and the many lives he made better in all his work.

The Sweeney family has established “John J. Sweeney ’55, ‘10H Scholarship Fund” at his alma mater, Iona College, stating John would be proud to know that helping young adults in financial need afford a college degree will be part of his legacy.  The HIT is proud to support this Fund in recognition of the inspiration and support that  John gave us over the years.

Contributions should be made directly to the “John J. Sweeney Scholarship Fund”  c/o Iona College, Joyce Advancement House, 715 North Ave., New Rochelle, NY 10801.