Robert F. Weber

Robert F. Weber, former Mayor of Chardon, OhioRobert F. Weber of Chardon, Ohio passed away on Good Friday, April 6, 2012 at the age of 90 after a long illness. Born in Chester, Pennsylvania on September 9, 1921, Mr. Weber entered the United States Navy during World War II. He served in the so-called “Secret War in China” with SACO, the Sino America Cooperative Organization, a precursor group to the Navy Seals. After extensive training in the Florida swamps, he was deployed to India and China. In China, he worked with the local population gathering intelligence for potential landing sites for amphibious attacks on Japanese strongholds. At the war’s end, he returned to Pennsylvania, planning to rejoin the shipyard where he had worked as a welder prior to enlistment. Using the GI bill, he enrolled at Bowling Green State University and graduated with a degree in business. It was at Bowling Green that he met Lucille Nobili, whom he later married. They settled in Chardon. Mr. Weber joined TRW as a welder, and eventually rose to become a director of purchasing during his thirty-five year career at TRW. While at TRW, he attended night classes at Cleveland Marshall Law School (now Cleveland State), earning his law degree in 1958 and thereafter practicing law part-time in Geauga County. After retiring from TRW, he joined the staff of the Geauga County Police Prosecutor’s Office and also worked with the late Probate Court Judge Frank G. Lavrich.Active in the community affairs, Mr. Weber served as Chardon Village councilman and council president, as well as serving as Mayor from 1977-1980. He devoted much of his time to youth activities, including work with the Boy Scouts, Little League and PTA. He was a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Chardon since 1953, serving on its building and finance committees. He is survived by his wife Lucille, his children Robert C. (Linda Brediger) of New Canaan, Connecticut and Cynthia Gage (Beto) of Chardon, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Robert F. Weber Scholarship Fund at Providence College, 1 Cunningham Square, Providence, Rhode Island 02819.