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University Mourns Passing of Emeritus Life Trustee Raymond John Wean Jr.

Wean Hall Named in Honor of His Family, Foundation's Support of Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon University Emeritus Life Trustee Raymond John ("Jack") Wean Jr. died on Sept. 15 in Palm Beach, Fla. He was 85.

Wean was a former president, CEO and chairman of the board for Wean Incorporated, a world-renowned company that manufactures machinery and other products for the steel, aluminum and metalworking industries. He was also chairman of the Raymond John Wean Foundation in Warren, Ohio, a private charitable foundation established in 1949 that has supported a wide range of educational organizations, including Carnegie Mellon. Wean Hall was named to honor the Wean family and the foundation's support for the university.

A longtime resident of Palm Beach, Wean was born in Warren, Ohio, and graduated from the University School in Cleveland. He matriculated to Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1943 from its Sheffield Scientific School.

After graduation, he joined the United States Navy and served as an officer aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Sullivans in the South Pacific during World War II. He also completed advanced officer training at the U.S. Naval Academy Post Graduate School, and attained the rank of Senior Lieutenant before returning to civilian life in 1946.

Following WWII, Wean spent his entire working career with Wean Incorporated and was instrumental in doubling the company's size by expanding its international activities and broadening its technical base. His professional affiliations included membership on the Executive Committee of the Machinery and Allied Products Institute, and in the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers, and the Newcomen Society.

As chairman of the Wean Foundation, he demonstrated his keen interest in education by serving as a trustee on many school boards over the years. He was a trustee of Carnegie Mellon, Youngstown State University, Babson College (Mass.), Palm Beach Day School, Miss Porter's School (Conn.), Blair Academy (N.J.), The University School (Cleveland) and the Wooster School (Conn.). He was also a trustee of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge and the Executive Board of the Allegheny Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a director of the board for Pittsburgh National Bank and Second National Bank in Warren, Ohio.

Wean was the recipient of several education awards, including the Seymour Preston Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and Youngstown State's Distinguished Citizen Award. He received an honorary degree from Westminster College.

An avid traveler and sportsman, Wean enjoyed fishing off the Florida coast and on numerous transatlantic crossings on ocean liners between the United States and Europe. He was an accomplished golfer who played on the Yale University golf team.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Adelaide McCracken Wean; four children, Thomas Frederick Wean of Key Largo, Fla., Raymond John Wean III of Pittsburgh, Gordon Beekman Wean of Cleveland, and Sara Rebecca Wean Stilin of West Palm Beach; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, 141 S. County Road, Palm Beach, Fla. 33480, or the charity of one's choice.

September 22, 2006


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