09/08/2026
This is a post from Lori, Jerry's daughter, and I wanted to pass it along to his other classmates from Camano Fit And Camano Center.
Let's all show Jerry how often he is still in our thoughts and how he still inspires us! Jerry was a top attending student in his class and always brought a smile and joy to our class. We sure do miss having him around the island. We love you, Jerry!
From Lori: To our Camano Island neighbors, my parents’ jerry and mary jo Jerry Sweeney) friends, and especially all of my dad’s friends from Camano Fit,
I wanted to share a little update about my dad and ask for a very small favor.
Dad has had a rough few weeks. He has been dealing with AFib, blood clots that are being managed with anticoagulants, and quite a bit of fluid retention. Thankfully, Lasix has given him a lot of relief from the fluid, and he’s really looking forward to getting stronger and being up and around again. And returning home where he ook@with my brother
He spent about two weeks in the hospital at the VA and has now been moved to a rehabilitation center in Puyallup.
And I just feel so bad for him.
Many of you knew my mom and dad during all their years on Camano. Camano was their home and their community. It was where their friends and neighbors were, where Dad went to Camano Fit, and where they built so many of the friendships and memories that meant so much to both of them.
After my mom died, life obviously changed enormously for Dad. He stayed in their Camano home for a while, but about a year ago he sold the house and moved closer to my brother and me so we could be there to help him.
It was something we needed to do, but it also meant leaving behind the community he’d known for so many years.
My dad has always been an incredibly social person, he was a wine steward at grocery outlet which he loved and their was home was beside the ladies aid on utsalady. and now he’s pretty far away from so many of the people he knows and loves.
Parkinson’s has also made communication increasingly difficult for him. Dad doesn’t talk very much anymore because his voice has become so weak. Phone calls are especially challenging because it can be very difficult to hear and understand him. But his brain is good
But I want those of you who haven’t seen him recently to know that mentally, Dad is still pretty squared away. He understands what’s happening around him. He knows people. He remembers. It’s his ability to communicate everything he’s thinking that has become so difficult.
That’s part of what makes this so hard to watch.
He’s in this little room at rehab, and although my brother and I visit him every day, we’re primarily his only regular visitors. I can see it in his eyes sometimes, and I think he feels forgotten.
Today I noticed a little sheet in his room saying that they deliver patient mail every morning, and it gave me an idea.
I thought maybe I would put this out to Camano.
If you knew my dad, worked out with him at Camano Fit, were one of my parents’ neighbors or friends, or simply remember him from around the island, would you consider sending him a postcard or card?
Nothing elaborate. Tell him you remember him. Tell him you’re thinking about him. Share an old Camano memory. Make him laugh. Tell him he’s in your prayers.
Because while talking on the phone has become difficult, my dad can still read his mail.
I think seeing some familiar Camano names arriving in that little room could mean more to him than people realize.
Some of you may remember Dad as the guy who came in last place in the Crab Dash.
That’s actually one of my favorite memories of him.
My dad did the Crab Dash with his walker and finished the entire thing. He was going to cross that finish line no matter how long it took. I believe one of the instructors from his fitness class walked that final stretch alongside him and helped him cross the finish line.
Boy, did that mean a lot to our family.
But that’s my dad.
He may have been last, but he finished.
I especially love the pictures from those days because my mom is still alive in them. When I look at them, I see my parents together on Camano, surrounded by their community, and I’m reminded of how much that chapter of their lives meant to them.
So maybe Camano can surround Dad one more time, just a little differently.
If you’d like to send him something:
Jerry sweeney
c/o Rainier Rehabilitation
920 12th Avenue SE
Puyallup, WA 98372
There is absolutely no expectation or obligation. I just thought perhaps some of the people who knew and loved my dad might see this and want to put a little piece of Camano into his mailbox.
To anyone who does, thank you so much.
My brother and I love our dad more than I can possibly put into words. Right now, I think reminding him that he hasn’t been forgotten might be one of the greatest gifts we can give nd.
