John Sweeney, the former executive director of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Mass., and a consummate connoisseur and collector, passed away earlier this week.

"He was my mentor," said Mark Hurwitz, chairman of the Newport Concours d'Elegance. "He was extremely knowledgeable and a good friend."

Sweeney was known for driving to auto events in his green C-Type Jaguar or his white XK120 Jaguar, usually sporting a fleece-lined bomber jacket, leather helmet and split goggles.

"Of course, he was a great disappointment to his (Yale-educated) family," said Hurwitz, noting that while he had been awarded full scholarships to both Harvard and Yale, Sweeney decided to attend Harvard.

"(Sweeney) was captivated by the essence and style of bygone eras," said Peter Bourassa, president of motorsportsmarketingresources.com in a written statement. "An inveterate pack rat, he surrounded himself with books and arcane artifacts that few of his friends could ever understand or appreciate. Yet others often recognized him as an expert in these very specialized areas of interest."

"John was the master of standing out quietly. To many John appeared the picture of a man frozen in time. His air of confidence and winning smile brought that anachronism to life. He reveled in being subtly different; From the tips of his dress slippers to the stem-wound watches he wore every day, John Sweeney was quietly being John Sweeney."

- Peter C.T. Elsworth