Wendell D. Weart

Wendell D. Weart

Wendell Weart was born September 24, 1932 in Brandon, Iowa to Mary and Everett Weart. He died September 26, 2024 at home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Wendell was preceded in death by his sister Marjorie Stephens, brother Richard Weart and Stepson Scott Henderson. Wendell is survived by his loving and loved wife Leanne, his children Brian Weart, Kathleen Williams and her children Jeffrey, Johnathan (Maureen) and Jennifer and by Craig Weart and his children Alana and Ruth Weart. He also is survived by his stepchildren who he cherished as his own, Randy Henderson (Tawni), and by Heather Briggs and her children Tyler and Emily. He also leaves behind Scott's children Drew and Dylan as well as 14 Great-grandchildren.

Wendell lived his early life in Brandon, Iowa and attended Cornell College in Iowa where he majored in geology and mathematics, receiving the honors of valedictorian and membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin receiving his Doctor of Philosophy in geophysics and membership in the Sigma Xi science honor society.

During a three-year stint working at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds (1957-1959) Wendell was introduced to the Nevada Nuclear Test Site where he worked on measuring effects of underground nuclear tests conducted in tunnels. Wendell then joined Sandia National Laboratories in 1959 to study the seismic effects of underground nuclear detonations. During the next fifteen years Wendell would study the containment of underground nuclear detonations and the seismic ground motions caused by these tests. For 20 years he was Chairman of the Department of Energy's Seismic Evaluation Committee that was responsible for predicting the effect of nuclear test created seismic waves on structures surrounding the Nevada Test Site and the high-rise buildings in Las Vegas. As staff member and later as a Division Supervisor he was responsible for ground motion and seismic studies on such nuclear tests as Project Gnome, conducted near Carlsbad, New Mexico and high yield tests at the Nevada Test Site, the Central Nevada test (Faultless) and the Milrow and Cannikin megaton tests at the Amchitka Alaska test site. In 1975 he became manager of the Sandia effort to select a site and direct the design of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). He managed the Sandia effort to conduct environmental site studies and underground experiments in the salt beds excavated for eventual waste disposal. These studies and information were used to predict the 10,000 year performance of the WIPP and demonstrate compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency standard for this nuclear repository. For twenty-five years Wendell was the principal interface of the WIPP project for issues of scientific relevance with the State of New Mexico Environmental Evaluation Group and with the National Academy of Science and numerous other peer review groups. He also made himself available to explain WIPP to numerous groups around New Mexico. In recognition of his contributions to Sandia's activities in nuclear testing and the WIPP program he was the third Sandian awarded the title of Sandia Fellow. After the WIPP began receiving nuclear transuranic waste Wendell retired from Sandia in October 2000 with 41 years of Sandia service. He often said that his career at Sandia was all he could have wishedstimulating challenges and the personal relationships that made it all so enjoyable.

After retirement Wendell continued to enjoy his hobby of taking photographs of his family and friends. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Wendell desired that there be no public services. If friends wish they may donate to Animal Humane of New Mexico (https://animalhumanenm.org) or to the Albuquerque National Museum of Nuclear Science and History (https://www.nuclearmuseum.org) in memory of his life.