EVERETT WEAVER

Everett "Tuck" Weaver, died at home surrounded by family members on Sept. 17, 2012 after entering Hospice care. Born on March 19, 1918 and raised in Ottawa, IL, Everett was the son of Everett Wesley and Frances Bechtner Weaver. He graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign in 1940 with a degree in Journalism. He learned to fly at the University of Illinois where University president Arthur Willard would let several of the students use his driver and car to get to the airport for flying lessons. After graduating in July 1940, Everett went to work for his uncle, Paul Bechtner, at the American Colloid Company, a specialty minerals producer. He left the company to serve in the Navy at the start of World War II in April 1942. He volunteered for the submarine service in August 1942 and made ten war patrols in the Pacific theater as an officer on the S-30, then the USS Barb, and finally the USS Maccabi. His service on the Barb was under the command of the legendary Eugene Fluckey, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor and multiple Navy Crosses, who became a lifelong friend and an inspirational figure in Everett's life. The Barb under Captain Fluckey became one of the most decorated submarines in World War II and revolutionized modern submarine warfare. For his service, he was awarded two Letters of Commendation and a Bronze Star. Following the war, Everett returned to American Colloid Company where he stayed on to work for more than fifty years, including seventeen years as the President, Chairman and CEO. During this time the company grew from a small privately held, regional minerals producer to a large international corporation and is now known as Amcol International. Upon his retirement, Everett became very involved in civic and philanthropic activities. In the Village of Winnetka, he served on the board of the Winnetka Community House, the North Shore Senior Center, and the Winnetka Historical Society as well as serving as a Winnetka Village Trustee. He provided charitable support to numerous large and small organizations through the creation of a family charitable foundation. He was especially proud of his work with the Winnetka Community House Fitness Center, the North Shore Senior Center House of Welcome, and the Green White Soccer Club. In addition, he had a passion for military history and provided support for several books on naval history. He married Martha "Peggy" Gallagher in 1945. He and Peggy had five children before her death in 1956. He married Rita Kathleen Campbell in 1959. Rita adopted his five children and Everett and Rita had two more children. Everett was preceded in death by his wife Rita and his brother William, a fighter pilot in the European theater in WWII, a Sigma Chi Fraternity brother at the University of Illinois, and a colleague at Amcol International for over four decades. He is survived by his seven children (Bob, Bill, Marjorie, Helen, Muffy, Annamarie, and Paul); fifteen grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. There will be a memorial service on Saturday 12/1 from 2-4pm at the Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, IL. Memorial gifts can be made to the Winnetka Community House or the North Shore Senior Center.