Obituary: Sylvan Sweet

MADISON - Sylvan Sweet, age 93, died peacefully on Thursday, April 28, 2011. Sylvan was born March 26, 1918, in Madison to Harry Rueven Sweet and Anna Perlstein Sweet. Sylvan attended Longfellow Elementary School, Madison Central Junior High School and graduated from Madison West H.S. in 1936. He attended University of Wisconsin briefly and then went to work for the AJ Sweet Company, which was founded by his father and uncles. He began his career selling cars with Ray L. Schappe on April 15, 1951, and worked there for many years. Sylvan sold used cars for 47 years in Wisconsin and California. Sylvan's greatest love was his singing. He sang with trios and local groups his entire life. He was a guest artist at many local clubs and venues but more importantly, he was the most beloved guest singer at every family wedding, bar mitzvah and family gathering. Sylvan was known for his fun loving, colorful personality and wonderful story telling of Madison history and personalities. He also loved animals, particularly dogs. Sylvan was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Anna; father, Harry; stepfather, Meyer Prosansky; brothers, Milton and Sidney Prosansky; brother, Leonard Sweet; and longtime companion, Edith McConley. He is survived by his sister, Phyllis Lefcowitz; sister-in-law, Clara Sweet; daughter, Susan (Michael) Perston; close friends, Marion Trachte and Sam Stassi; grandchildren, Amy Lisa Rosen and Matthew Rosen; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Sylvan was a lifelong member of the Madison Jewish Community and Beth Israel Center. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Hospice Residences for their loving and attentive care during Sylvan's stay there as well as Jewish Social Services of Madison. Those wishing to make contributions can make them to Beth Israel Center, Jewish Social Services of Madison or HospiceCare Inc. Funeral services will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison on Monday, May 2, 2011, at 10 a.m. "A Day without Music is a Day without Sunshine." He did it his way... Cress Funeral and Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on May 1, 2011 (submitted by Michael Vahldieck, Class of 1968).

Sylvan Sweet is a Madison Central High School alumnus because he attended CHS for several years prior to transferring to West.