November 18, 1929 - January 3, 2014
COOPERSTOWN - John H. "Jack" Weber, Jr., 84, of Cooperstown, passed away Friday evening, January 3, 2014, at his home.
Born November 18, 1929, in Long Island City, he was the son of John Henry and Eleanor (Gernon) Weber.
Raised in Rego Park, Queens, he attended Forest Hills High School where he excelled in sports, lettering in soccer, baseball, and gymnastics. After graduating from high school, he attended the New York Institute of Applied Technology for a year. On May 28, 1952, Jack entered into active service with the United States Navy and proudly served his country during the Korean War aboard the USS Harder (SS-568), the second submarine to serve the US Navy by that name. He received his Honorable Discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States on March 25, 1954.
Just prior to entering the military, Jack married Helen Schlimmeyer, the love of his life who he met during his high school years while he was playing sports and she was cheerleading. They were married on April 29, 1951, in a ceremony at Ascension Church in Rego Park, and settled in northern New Jersey in the Borough of Waldwick where they raised their family.
A steamfitter by trade, Jack was a member of Steamfitters Local 638, and was employed for many years by Centrifugal Associates in New York City. An active member of the Waldwick community, he served as a member and at one time Chief of the Waldwick Fire Department, and was also a devoted communicant of St. Luke's Church in Ho-Ho-Kus.
Through their good friend, Marjorie Landers, the Webers were introduced to Otsego County, and, after purchasing a second home and spending many weekends in the area, they became full-time residents in 1992.
After moving to Cooperstown, Jack became an active part of the community. A communicant of St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church he served at one time on the Parish's buildings and grounds committee. Jack also enjoyed working at The Farmers' Museum as an interpreter, especially as a broom maker in The Westcott Shop and as a printer in The Print Shop. A dedicated volunteer for Bassett Healthcare and Habitat for Humanity, Jack was also a generous blood donor for the American Red Cross, having passed the five gallon mark many years ago. In his leisure he liked to read and cook.
Jack will be greatly missed by his family. He is survived by one son, Ronald J. Weber and his wife, Arlene, of New Paltz; two daughters, Nancy Tallman and her husband, Dennis, of Fly Creek and Christine A. Soell and her husband, Julian, of Allendale, NJ; and eight grandchildren, Katie A. , Christopher R. and John J. Weber, Kyle S. Tallman, and Justin L. , Emily A. , Mitchell J., and Adam D. Soell.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Helen S. Weber, who died January 28, 2013; one sister, Eileen Hunter, who died January 8, 2013; and a son-in-law, Scott G. Peterson, who died July 17, 2001.
In fulfillment of Jack's desire to have his body donated for medical education and research, he has been gratefully received by the Anatomical Gift Program at Albany Medical College.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in memory of Jack at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2013, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding. At the conclusion of the Mass, Military Honors will be accorded by members of the United States Navy Funeral Honor Guard.
The Service of Committal and Burial will take place at a later date in St. Mary's Cemetery in Index.
In keeping with Jack's devotion to fire service, and in gratitude for assistance from local emergency personnel, Jack's family would greatly appreciate that memorial gifts in his memory be directed to The Cooperstown Fire Department, P. O. Box 1, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Another way to memorialize Jack's life would be a donation to The Farmers' Museum, P.O. Box 30, Cooperstown, NY 13326, or Habitat for Humanity of Otsego County, 291 Chestnut Street, Suite 284, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow and Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
