Ceremony Will Name The Waterford High School Field House After Francis X. Sweeney

A Press Release from Waterford Public Schools

On Friday, January 3, 2014 the Waterford High School Field House will officially be re-named the Francis X. Sweeney Field House. The dedication ceremony will include a plaque in honor of Fran as well as the unveiling of a portrait painted by A. Vonn Hartung, a member of the Waterford High School Class of 1960 who, along with First Selectman Dan Steward and former Board of Education member Tom Passaro, was instrumental in spearheading the name change.

Fran “Doc” Sweeney was the first Athletic Director at Waterford High School and a prominent figure in Waterford sports. He taught Physical Education, Math, Science and Health in the school system for 30 years. He initiated many Waterford sports including tennis, golf, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey. He was a coach, athletic trainer, nurse, father, mentor and friend to many. He was a pioneer for girls’ sports and supported Title IX efforts. He served as a lifeguard and swim instructor at Waterford Beach and as a member of the Waterford Recreation and Parks Commission and the Waterford Board of Education.

On September 26, 2013, the Waterford Board of Education changed its longstanding policy regarding the naming of facilities. Shortly thereafter a committee was formed in accordance with the policy and regulation to review requests for naming facilities after notable town residents. 

In October, First Selectman Dan Steward presented the Board of Education with a proposal to name the Waterford Field House in honor of Fran Sweeney. The proposal satisfied the arduous criteria set by the Waterford Board of Education, which included a petition signed by at least 100 registered Waterford voters, a decade-long career as a former employee of the school district, evidence of the individual’s outstanding achievement, resume of the individual’s public service, a minimum of ten letters of recommendation for naming a facility after the individual and satisfactorily passing a background check. 

On October 29, 2013, the Waterford Board of Education unanimously approved the naming of the Francis X. Sweeney Field House at Waterford High School.

In an April interview with Waterford Patch, Vonn Hartung described Fran Sweeney saying, “He’s always been a person to look up to. A lot of us didn’t have good home lives and stuff and he was a beacon to a lot of us kids. He was a person who cared and you knew he cared.”

Board of Education member Jody Nazarchyk commented on the support for naming the field house after Fran saying, “It was utterly amazing. . . The love of everyone in town for Fran was amazing.” Mr. Sweeney passed away in December at the age of 86.

Waterford High School, the last of the five schools to be renovated, was opened in April 2013. The dedication ceremony is planned for 6:45 p.m. on Friday, January 3 between the girls’ and boys’ basketball games against New London in the Field House at Waterford High School.