Obituary of George Washington Weidman

George Washington Weidman Born February 22, 1927 in Stones Falls, Dansville, NY the youngest child of Glenn and Katherine (Sick) Weidman. He was a resident of Ossian for 64 years beginning in 1952 when he and his wife Mary bought the Elias Geiger Farm, where they raised their children, practiced small scale farming and had an open door policy to many relatives and friends. He lost his beloved Mary in 1996 to cancer. President of his senior class in Dansville, he left at mid-term, in early 1945, to join the U.S. Coast Guard, and served as quartermaster on the U.S.S. Lowe, DE 325, a Navy Destroyer Escort, in the North Atlantic, until the Spring of 1946. For his service to his country, he was issued the Honorable Discharge Button, the Honorable Service Button, and the Honorable Service Emblem. He was awarded the American Legion Merit Cup by his senior class. George was employed at the Foster Wheeler plant in Dansville for 28 years, eventually becoming Union President, a post he held for 12 years. He became known for his devotion to the workers of the plant and his fearlessness, one time blocking the delivery of materials during a strike by lying across the railroad tracks. Although his efforts were often amusing, the purpose was always serious. He left Foster Wheeler in 1975 to become a Business Agent for the International Association of Machinists, District #182, where he traveled the Southern Tier, organizing factories, negotiating contracts and handling grievances, always serving the interests of working New Yorkers. After retiring as a business agent in 1987, he served as a claimants’ representative licensed by the New York State Workers Compensation Board. In the over 20 years he served as a workers compensation attorney, he handled hundreds of claims, helping injured and sick workers gain just payment so that mortgages or rent could be paid and families fed. George was known for his sly wit, his unflappable demeanor and a calculated air of country simplicity, which led many to underestimate his considerable negotiating skills. He was a dedicated player of the card game, pitch, and a nationally ranked checker player, a game he began playing when he was 7 or 8 years old during the Depression. His skills were honed during his time in the Coast Guard and he usually traveled with a checkerboard in his vehicle or luggage. Locally, he was known for various fund-raising tournaments where he played multiple games simultaneously, and of course, won every game. He was member of the International Checker Hall of Fame as well as the American Checker Federation. In July 1992 he was selected by the International Checker Hall of Fame Committee to travel to Russia as part of the U.S. Checker Team to compete in the “Mind Sports Game Center” in Moscow. He joined the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association, as life member, and served on its board in various capacities from 2002 to 2008, including president of this national veteran’s organization from 2005 to 2007. He represented DESA at the National Memorial Day celebration in Washington, D.C. for several years and was present at the dedication of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall on May 29, 2004. George advocated with local organizations for financial support to assure that veterans in the area were able to travel to Washington D.C. on Honor Flight Rochester. His own Honor Flight trip of 2010 was delayed for several years to allow other veterans the opportunity first. In 1998 George was a member of the Dansville American Legion’s Memorial Project 2000, helping to track down those who claimed the Dansville School District area as home and who served honorably in the military from the Revolutionary War era through 1999. The permanent monument listing those names is located in Williams Park. This service reflects the fact that his time in the USCG and onboard the U.S.S. Lowe were defining events of his life. His acts of service and his involvement in a variety of organizations are considerable: Twenty years on the Ossian Town Board, eight as Supervisor, serving on the Livingston County Board of Supervisors, and twelve as Deputy Supervisor. Life member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Charter member of the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum in Albany, Seventy year member of the American Legion Post # 87 in Dansville, Life member of VFW Post # 6780 in Dansville, serving as Judge Advocate, Former Director of Teresa House, Geneseo, Former Director, New York Festival of Balloons, Life member and former member of the Board of Directors, Dansville Area Historical Society He was Chairman of the Ossian Bicentennial Committee which researched and published the 200 year history of Ossian in 2004. He was chosen as the Town of Ossian Senior Citizen of the Year in 2011. He was proud of his farm, now nearly 300 acres, whose 1865 Italianate farmhouse is listed on both the New York State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places, and is home to the largest black locust tree in the U.S. He was a member of numerous civic and professional organizations including the Fish and Game Club of Dansville, the Foster Wheeler 25 year Club, the Rochester Claims Association, the Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern RR Company Historical Society, the Pennsylvania Lumberman’s Historical Museum, and The Friends of the Dansville Public Library. On April 25, 2001 George was awarded his high diploma through a program known as Operation Recognition for WW II veterans who did not complete their education due to their wartime service. The newspaper headline: “After 56 years in 12th grade, George finally receives his high school diploma”! In addition to his wife of 44 years, Mary (DePuy) he was predeceased by his brother Grant, Grant’s son, Paul who was like a younger brother to him, brothers Howard and Russell, and sister Elva Kluener. He is survived by one sister Geraldine Wolfanger, Dansville, NY; by his sons Jesse (Elizabeth Rapchick), Dansville, NY; Frank (Leta Paradise), Spicewood, TX; and daughters Jane (Minot Davis), Newport, RI; and Catherine, Miami, FL. Sadly he was predeceased by foster daughter, Marie (McCabe) Carucci in 2006. He is survived by grandchildren Matthew, David, Emily, Taylor, Debra, Abigail and Tara, and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his loving companion of many years, Teresa Dearing. Friends may call from 4:00pm to 8:00pm Tuesday at the Hindle Funeral Home Inc. 271 Main St. Dansville NY 14437. A funeral service will take place 11:00am Wednesday at the Dansville Presbyterian Church 3 School St. Dansville NY 1447. Interment will take place in Greenmount Cemetery with Full Military Honors Following Church Services. Memorials in George's name can be left to Livingston County Hospice 2 Murray Hill Dr. Mt. Morris, NY 14510; VFW Post 6780 Frank J. Casbolt Memorial 145 Main St. Dansville, NY 14437; Daniel E. Goho Post #87 American Legion P.O.Box 306 Dansville, NY 14437