Albert Joseph Sweeten Jr.
February 8, 1950 - December 9, 2012
Obituary
(New York) Al, Albert Joseph Sweeten Jr., age 62, passed away peacefully in Burien on Sunday, December 9th, 2012. Al is survived by his son, Anthony Sweeten (Jen); grandchildren, Connor and Erin; sister, Mary Janek (Fred); brothers, Gary and Robert Sweeten and a community of close friends and co-workers. A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, 12/14 at 2:00 pm at BONNEY-WATSON Washington Memorial Chapel, 16445 International Blvd., SeaTac, WA 98188.
I met Al late last Spring, and had the privilege to hear his story, as well as an opportunity to visit a bit one on one. His experience, strength, hope & strong message were such an inspiration to me. A great man who will be greatly missed
Thank you Al for all that you have done in our community. SIHB will never be the same without you.
So thankful that I got to meet you , you will always whole a special place in my heart. I’m sure that you touched many lives along the way. Rest in peace my friend. My prayers are with your family at this time in their lives. God Bless !!!
Damn, Al, I miss you so much. Your memory always will be a beacon of hope and inspiration. You changed the lives of thousands, including me, for which I will be forever grateful. Because of you I am available for good things to happen and to carry your message to others. Your wisdom is forever etched in my heart. Please live on in peace and serenity knowing that you are loved beyond words. Aloha!
You were a champion for the underdog. You showed compassion for the suffering alcoholic, you cared about the homeless drug addict and you respected Native American people. You lobbied in Olympia for the people that society would rather forget. You truly are a modern day hero and will be greatly missed. You are an inspiration to all and your character is one to emulate. I am comforted by imagining you sitting with Bill W. right now, pointing out the things in the Big Book that you would have written differently. Peace be with you!
Al you are and always will be the “Godfather of Recovery”. You didn’t practice service, you lived it, 24/7. You taught me that recovery is an option that is available if I was willing to do the work. You gave so much and I never heard you ask for anything. Happy trails my friend until we meet again.
Mr. Sweeten, I wish I would have told you how much I appreciated the support and guidance you gave me. You have taught so many so much, you have led by example. You will not be forgotten.
He will be missed.
AL Was a Man That I could Count On To tell Me the truth about How he felt about what ever I toiled hem. I well miss Him. But. Al will be in the rooms for a long time
We met Al S in the rooms 18 years ago. His story is absolutely incredible!! Hes actually in a book here in Seattle AA Sober in Seattle 1st Edition. Al was a no nonsense man.His endless service work will always be remembered. Thank You so much for all that you have done in the recovery community!!! You will be missed.
thank you al. be at peace and let us carry on.
Al gave his heart & soul to the recovery community!! He was a great friend to us for many years. He was always willing to help a suffering alcoholic unconditionally and never judged!!! He will FOREVER be in our hearts and memories!!!! Save a seat for us!!!! WE LOVE YOU NY AL!!!!!! Rest in peace!!!! XOXOXO
We at the Seattle Indian Health Board are deeply saddened at the loss of our co-worker, friend, and valued leader. While we will be in shock for a great while at the passing of our Health Board family member, what Al has meant to and invested of himself in us and the community we serve will be an inspiration for those he leaves behind. He made everyone he came in contact with feel at ease with his compassion, caring, and humor – regardless of job position, title, or area of responsibility. We will miss you, Al.
Thank you Al for being a pasitive influence in my life as well as my recovery. You made a difference in the lives of so many. Scripture tells us to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord.
A Bahai Prayer shared in memory of our dear departed brother in recovery:
O my God, O Forgiver of sins and Dispeller of afflictions! O Thou Who art pardoning and merciful! I raise my suppliant hands to Thee, tearfully beseeching the court of Thy divine Essence to forgive, through Thy mercy and pardon, Thy handmaiden who hath ascended unto the seat of truth. Cause her, O Lord, to be overshadowed by the clouds of Thy bounty and favor, immerse her in the ocean of Thy forgiveness and clemency, and enable her to enter the sanctified abode, Thy heavenly Paradise.
Thou art, verily, the Mighty, the Compassionate, the Generous, the Merciful.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Another Bahai Prayer for Al;
O my God! O Thou forgiver of sins, bestower of gifts, dispeller of afflictions!
Verily, I beseech thee to forgive the sins of such as have abandoned the physical garment and have ascended to the spiritual world.
O my Lord! Purify them from trespasses, dispel their sorrows, and change their darkness into light. Cause them to enter the garden of happiness, cleanse them with the most pure water, and grant them to behold Thy splendors on the loftiest mount.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Al, you will be sorely missed. Thank you for being a constant in the lives of so many suffering alcoholics and for your witty, sometimes caustic brand of humor. I can’t quite believe you are gone from this earth, but I feel my life is richer for having known you. You are a true gem!
You touched the lives of so many. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.
May God bless you and keep you – until then.
Yes, until then my friend.
My friendship with Al began in the 80’s when he first arrived in this area. We go back to the early days at Renaissance Recovery House in Auburn, WA. He was enthusistic about everything and I found that refreshing. His passion was working with those who were caught up in the dereliction and degradation of addiction. Over the years, he stood up for his beliefs, he spoke up for his political stands and he advocated for the entire chemical dependency field. I am so grateful for his commitment to all aspects of recovery. Through the years, he has been an amazing Light in the world and a dear friend. I am deeply saddened by his passing and I celebrate his incredible life!! I send my heart-felt sympathy to both his biological and his spiritual families. May our beloved Al rest in peace. Namaste
Al – so sad that you’re gone, so glad you were here. I knew you for such a short time, but feel incredibly blessed for that time. Grace – an unmerited gift. Thanks for always reminding me of that and for being such a great picture of what it looks like to live in God’s world. You are so missed – sleep with the angels.
Thank you Al, you were a great role mode for my son and I enjoyed your company at the store. Heard at a meeting, and I think it applies here: An Honorable Discharge…
I will miss you my friend. Your strong and effective advocacy will be missed by all who work with those suffering from substance abuse and addiction.
Al: Working with you in the provider community was a privilege. Your caring, committment and strong advocacy for justice was an inspiration. I send my heart felt sympathy to those who are missing you deeply while celebrating your wonderful life.
Al really made a difference in the community. He was supportive, kind-hearted and always a good laugh! He will be missed. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Good Bye dear Al. Thank you for your great wisdom and insight into the stuggles so many of us face. Yours was always the voice of reason. I very much appreciated your golden nuggets of wisdom. They were always what I needed to hear! Thank you for the opportunity to get to know you.
Al will be missed as he was a great advocate for the community. My days working with him at Seattle Indian Health Board were priceless as he always made meetings light but always got the job done. Tbird was always in good hands with Al….Thanks Al for everything.
You had a way of bringing people together and making them feel comfortable. Your wisdom and leadership will surely be missed.
Al helped thousands of people, myself included. I always enjoyed when Al shared at a meeting, he got right to the point, and it was always on the mark. Goodbye, Al, you will be missed, always remembered, never forgotten.
RIP Al, you were a great ICON!! And Loved by many!!
Words cannot express the sadness in our hearts for your sudden passing. You have touched too many lives to count-ours included. Thank you for always being there to support us. You will be missed by so many but your memory and presence will live on. We need only look to your chair on Friday nights and hear you say, “Bullshit Thyself Not.” You were not only a man of words-but one of action. Much love to you.
Al I’ll miss not seeing your face every morning. And the news paper that you gave to me with a how u doing. Sometimes you would asked questions just to see where I was in recovery. TTC won’t be the same with out you.
You’ll have many crown’s to lay at Jesus feet.
you will be missed, always remembered, never forgotten.
Al I’ll will miss your passion for helping people on there way of recovery you will be miss
Enjoyed getting to know you over the years during some of the conversations we had. You are a gem and will be missed by many.
Al was a welcome face every time I saw him at a meeting and I still use his quote to my clients today ‘If you are not drinking and drugging you make yourself available for good things to happen”!!! Thank you Al,gone but never forgotten
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free!
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all…
I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss…
Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss.
My life’s been full, I’ve savoured much:
Good times, good friends, a loved-one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief—
Don’t shorten yours with undue grief.
Be not burdened with tears of sorrow,
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.
I did not know what to say. The hurt is still so strong. But I heard some words in a song that seem to be guiding me to add to all the wonderful thoughts already expressed “I believe that God sends angels to live amongst us. To show is how to live. To show us how to give”. He would shrug this off with a bit of his smirk. I am sure he did not see himself as an angel. But the words of the song fit. God worked through him. Al gave of himself entirely and tirelessly. I will miss him so much. His Ny style, his smile, oh and those nice clothes and what about those cars! Always leave them with a smile, right Al.!
Al will live on through all the lives he has touched and our memories.
It was good to have you around and appreciate all the help you’ve done for so many
thank you for so much inspiration over the years…, i will always remember the things you shared with us. Justin thanks you too for being a good friend and supplier of the full size tootsie pop (not those small dum dums…) your messages will live on.
To a freiend in aa thank you forwhat done aa city seattle you be mis god bless
Al, you were soooo good to me and to many other people. Your kindness, wisdom and generosity of spirit are already greatly missed. Peace and God Bless!
Al will be missed by me very much god bless his soul i feel very blessed to have known him
I’ll miss running into you in the lunchroom and having our short
conversations…loved your classy style, you will be missed.
eloise.
Goodbye Al, you were such a great guy you will never be forgotten, I like the words Barbara said of that song: “I believe that God sends angels to live amongst us. To show is how to live.” One day I will get my sobriety and I know that you really were a living example. Thanks . Lisa
Gratefull drunks don’t drink. You will be missed.
Al will be missed in many ways in the Seattle area. He was always willing to share when called upon at meetings & usually said some memorable thing.
Rest in peace, Al.
From the “Twisted Sisters”, Char & Betsy
Al, thanks for caring, thanks for sharing. You cut through the “B.S.” God bless you & your family. You are missed.
“Think of just crossing a river,
Stepping out safe on that shore,
Sadness and suffering over,
Dwelling with Christ evermore!” –Anon.
R.I.P. Al your stern, strong words of wisdom will always hold a warm place in my heart.
My dear friend, Al. You went peacefully and that brought great comfort to those who witnessed your first step on a new journey. You were a staunch advocate for those in need. You were a true friend and I miss you more than words can express. You touched many hearts and lives; and, never once, asked for anything in return other than people be true and honest with themselves. You always made me laugh, even in the most challenging times. I will miss our conversations and the wisdom you shared with me over coffee or lunch. I look forward to getting to know your wonderful son, Anthony, better in the coming months. R.I.P. my friend.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Sweeten family. Al was a true advocate for the most needy in our state. He clearly understood it takes sincere and consistent support to help those who have been left behind in society. A man who spoke from his heart and others listened to because of his authentic approach to service. You will be missed Al……..