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Thomas Weidner Obituary

Thomas Patterson Weidner CRANBURY Thomas Patterson Weidner passed away at home in Cranbury, NJ on May 31, 2021 with his wife by his side following a valiant struggle against the complications of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. He was 73 years of age. Tom proudly lived most of his life in the family home purchased by his parents in 1946 and purchased from them when they retired in 1976. He graduated from The Cranbury School in 1961 and moved on to Hightstown High School. At Hightstown, Tom continued to excel, graduating first in his class to being the first two-year editor-in-chief of the school newspaper his junior and senior years. He also served as Vice President and President of the Student Council and was President of his class his freshman and sophomore years. Tom was an outstanding athlete in soccer, baseball and basketball, serving as captain for all three sports, being named most valuable player in two sports and being named honorable mention all-state in soccer his senior year. Tom was inducted into the Hightstown High School Athletic Hall of Fame in both soccer and baseball. Following graduation from Hightstown, Tom attended Princeton University from which he graduated with a A.B. degree in Economics. A three year letter winner in soccer, Tom was captain of the team his senior year and received the Davis S. Hackett Memorial Cup for his enthusiasm, discipline and leadership. Tom was inspired to be a lawyer from attending court proceedings held by his uncle, Judge Clinton Weidner in Pennsylvania. So, after Princeton, Tom attended University of Wisconsin Law School where he received his J.D. degree, cum laude in 1972. During law school, Tom joined the Army National Guard from which he was honorably discharged. Following graduation from law school, Tom served as a Deputy Attorney General in the New Jersey Attorney General's office from 1972-1976 in the Environmental Protection Section. He then joined Jamieson, McCardell, Moore, Peskin and Spicer in Princeton where he specialized in litigation and served as managing partner. Tom was a Certified Civil Practice Attorney and served as President of the Mercer County Bar Association in 1990. Among his many accomplishments, Tom argued the constitutionality of New Jersey's Automobile Reform Act before the New Jersey Supreme Court. At the time of his retirement from the practice of law, Tom was a partner in Windels, Marx, Lane and Mittendorf where he had continued his litigation and insurance regulatory practices. Volunteering was important to Tom and he served in many capacities. He was a member of the Cranbury Township Planning Board and Cranbury Township Committee and served as Mayor several times during his tenures. He was honored to play a part in preserving Cranbury's farmland. He was, at the time of his death, a proud long-time member of the Cranbury Township Parks Commission and served as Chair for many years. Tom was a Board Member of the United Way of Greater Mercer County, served as Chair of that Board, and was a member of the Board of the Princeton Internships for Civic Service for 13 years. Finally, Tom served as Trustee of the Princeton Area Community Foundation which supported a number of Trenton NJ organizations (his wife's hometown) and chaired the Committee on Trustees during his tenure. Tom's son Matt followed in his father's footsteps as an athlete and Tom coached most of his soccer, baseball and basketball teams, rearranging his law schedule so he never missed a game. Tom was predeceased by his parents, Jean and Les Weidner and his siblings, Chuck, Fritz and Lucy Weidner. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Joan Markiewicz Weidner, their son, Matthew Carl Weidner, of Los Angeles, his sisters-in-law, Leigh Carol Freeman, Sherred Weidner and Holly Weidner, and cherished cousins, nieces, nephews and friends…and a very loyal labrador retriever, Caneel. The family expresses their deepest gratitude to Tom's doctors, nurses and physician assistants at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia for their compassion and extraordinary care over these past years, as well as Penn Home Health Care and Palliative Care teams at Princeton who were kind, considerate and professional, and were of enormous help to Tom over the last two years. Calling hours will be held from 4pm to 8pm Friday, June 4, 2021, at the Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home, 202 Stockton Street, Hightstown, NJ 08520. Funeral services will be held 11am Saturday, June 5 at the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, 22 South Main Street, Cranbury, NJ 08512. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom's name may be made to the Cranbury First Aid Squad, 68 Maplewood Avenue, Cranbury, NJ 08512 or the Cranbury Vol. Fire Company, 2 South Main Street, Cranbury, NJ 08512. Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home Hightstown, NJ 08520 (609) 448-3456

Published by The Times, Trenton, from Jun. 2 to Jun. 3, 2021.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

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Memories and Condolences
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I decided to check back, about a year later, and find that mine is the most recent remembrance. I can add a detail to the story. I neglected to say that Tom was the Hightstown pitcher in the story below. He told me at Princeton that he remembered the play; when the ball went off my bat, he was sure that we were going to tie the game. But the CF tracked the line drive down for the final out. A Mercer County newspaper reported in essence that, "Princeton-bound Tom Weidner pitched another complete game victory," or some such. Needless to say, there was nothing about the guy who made the final out. Rest in Power, Captain Tom.

John Abbotts

Other

October 15, 2022

Please pardon this late entry, but I only learned about Tom's passing recently. My deepest condolences and sympathy to Tom's family and friends. I knew Tom both as a competitor and teammate. I played soccer, basketball (JV only), and baseball at Hopewell Valley Regional HS, a cross-county rival. Senior year, we lost soccer to Hightstown 4-1 away, then tied 1-1 at home, which was a major accomplishment. I think Hightstown won the state championship two years in a row with Tom as captain. Then in the spring, in a baseball game at Hightstown, I hit a line drive with the tying run on third; only to see a fleet-footed CF track the drive down, for the final out in the game. At Princeton, Tom and I both started for the freshman soccer team, and I reminded Tom of those events in HS. I was a student-almost athlete in college, toiling 2 yrs on JV, finally making varsity as a senior, only to land behind a line of younger classmen. Still, I got enough playing time as utility midfielder and striker to earn a letter. Tom of course, was team captain. In an end of year dinner after the season, I recounted my experiences against Tom, and gave him one of my Hopewell Valley "Bulldog" T-shirts. It was a surprise, and I think Tom enjoyed it. He was a scholar-athlete, a team leader, and as I learned, a community leader in later life. He will be missed, and the world is poorer for his passing.

John Abbotts

September 22, 2021

Joseph Marshall

June 4, 2021

May the Weidner family except my deepest condolences. I have known Tom for a long Tom, from playing baseball and Soccer at Hightstown High.
Tom was a good guy, and he will be missed.

Harold White

Friend

June 4, 2021

Tom: A nice guy and great attorney who will be missed. God's Speed on your journey, Tom.

Stephen Zielinski, Jr., Esq.

Friend

June 4, 2021

I send my deeply felt condolences to Joan and Matt over the passing of an exceptional man, Tom Weidner. Knew him for over 60 years as a great scholar, dedicated friend, devoted attorney and community leader, and exceptional athlete who achieved so much for so many with unparalleled determination and humility... I, as so many, miss him and will remember him as a great person.

Craig Hannas

Friend

June 3, 2021

I knew Tom and his older Sister Lucy the entire time I lived in Cranbury, playing Little League baseball with and against him for several years. He had a great sense of humor and I'm sad to hear of his passing.

PAUL J. CHRISTIANSEN

Acquaintance

June 3, 2021

Joan, so sorry to read of your loss may God receive his soul he left a very lasting imprint in this world

Larry &Rosemary Marinari

Friend

June 3, 2021

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Memorial Events
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Jun

4

Calling hours

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home

202 Stockton St, Hightstown, NJ 08520

Jun

5

Funeral service

11:00 a.m.

First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury

22 South Main Street, Cranbury, NJ

Funeral services provided by:

Barlow & Zimmer Funeral Home

202 Stockton St, Hightstown, NJ 08520

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