Mr. Richard Thomas Weber

Richard Thomas Weber, born in Patterson, NJ, on December 7, 1953 and long-time resident of Pittsfield, peacefully passed away on February 16, 2014. Rick was the son of William F. and Marion C. Weber (née Schmidt). He married Donna Saylor in 1976, and together they moved to Pittsfield in 1978. Their son, Owen, was born in 1984. A graduate of Freehold High (1971), he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Art Education at the College of New Jersey (1975), and later a Master’s in Education at Lesley College (1993). Rick enjoyed a long and successful career as a beloved elementary school art teacher of 33 years. He loved teaching elementary art. Throughout his career, he cherished the work of his students and valued teaching the foundations of art. He touched the lives of so many young people in Pittsfield, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, Housatonic and Great Barrington. In his retirement, he continued a career of oil and later watercolor painting en plein air. Landscapes, still lifes, and portraiture were his passions. He painted every corner of Berkshire County, and particularly loved painting Pontoosuc Lake. He was an avid sportsman, until his Addison’s disease and AMN (Adrenomyeloneuropathy) made it too difficult to play. He enjoyed A-level volleyball, and truly loved golf, which he played at a high level for more than forty years. He was a member of Berkshire Hills Country Club. He was a big fan of the Yankees, Giants, Jets, Knicks, and St. John’s basketball team. In later life, he grew to love books. He amassed a large collection of art books, but ever since the day his son gave him a copy of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, he never stopped reading. His favorite authors were McCarthy, Stieg Larsson, Dan Brown, and many more. His family heritage of Danish descent was an extremely important element of his life. His great-grandfather Thomas Schmidt was an excellent artist and a teacher in Denmark. Rick shared his birthdate, December 7th, and was given the same middle name. He loved and was devoted to his church, First Church of Christ at Park Square. He served as Moderator of the Church, Christian Education chairperson, Personnel Committee Chairperson, and Delegate to the UCC and Mission Outreach. Rick loved life, and cherished each and every day. He adored his brilliant, caring wife of 38 years, his wonderful, artistic son, and his bright and engaging daughter-in-law. They were the center of his life. He is survived by his wife Donna Weber, his son Owen Weber and his daughter-in-law Sarah Thein-Weber, his brother William Weber, his sister Laurie and her husband Edward Klesitz, his mother and father-in-law Patsy and Robert Saylor, his sister-in-law Linda and her husband Gary Brogan, and his nieces and nephews Jonas, Nicholas, and Wyatt Weber, Juliet and Emily Klesitz, and Nichole and Danielle Brogan. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Mr. Richard T. Weber will be Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 11 a.m. at First Church of Christ Congregational on Park Square, Pittsfield with Pastor James Lumsden officiating. Calling hours at the Dwyer Funeral Home will be Friday, February 21, 2014 from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to First Church of Christ, care of the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St., Pittsfield MA 01201, in his memory. DONATIONS CANNOT BE MADE ON THIS WEBSITE, but may be made through the Dwyer Funeral Home.

Mr. Richard Thomas Weber

December 7, 1953 - February 16, 2014