Rita Sweeney

Rita Christine Sweeney, age 69, died on Sunday, May 9th, after a long illness. Rita was born on September 27, 1951 in New London, Connecticut and grew up in Norwich, Connecticut, graduating from Norwich Free Academy in 1969.

Rita was in the first female class of Georgetown University’s Undergraduate College in Washington, DC. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1973 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She then studied economics at Princeton University, earning her MA in 1975. While at Princeton she received a fellowship to study at the Swedish Institute for Social Research, University of Stockholm, where she studied the impact of government programs on women’s participation in the labor market.

Before moving to Madison, Rita worked at the Agency for International Development and was a lecturer in economics at Fordham University. In Madison, Rita joined Christensen Associates in 1982, continuing as a senior economist until she retired in 2018.

Rita was an active member of Luther Memorial Church, serving at various times on their social ministry, facilities planning, and pastoral call committees.

Rita was warm, funny, and compassionate, and a woman of strong convictions. She was an excellent cook and skilled at weaving rugs. Her interests ranged from Nahajo culture, to reggae and folk music, and theater and opera. She enjoyed mystery novels and loved to travel. Shortly before her illness she visited Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan, and Havana, Cuba.

Rita is survived by her husband, Philip Schoech; son John Schoech of San Jose, California; and sister Paula Sweeney (Steve Asin) of Bethesda, Maryland. She is also survived by nephews Dan Asin (Jess Newton) and Sam Asin, and by nieces Melissa Onderisin (Bret), Nicole Vogrin, and Becky Vogrin. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Sophia Sweeney, and her son, Andrew Schoech.

A memorial service for Rita will be held at Luther Memorial Church on June 13th at 4:00 pm.

The family thanks the Hebron Oaks staff at Oakwood Village, Holly Hanson of UW Health, Dr. Greta Kuphal, and Dr. Elizabeth Felton for the care they gave Rita in her final years.

If you would like to contribute in Rita’s name, the family suggests the following organizations: Advancing Real Change, Inc. ( advancechange.org ), Doctors Without Borders, the Luther Memorial Church Foundation, or the Oakwood Village Foundation.