OBITUARY Vernon Weber January 27, 1932 – January 21, 2019 VERNON E. WEBER, 86, died Monday, January 21, at South Franklin Circle, Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Beloved husband of 60 years to Beverly Weber (deceased); father of Larry Weber (Dawn), Terry Weber, Tracey Stoffer (Kevin), Tony Weber (Amy) and Heidi Herten (Jim); brother of Eugene Weber (deceased) (Ruth); Mark Weber (Dana) and Bill Weber; grandfather of Sara Tanzer (Cory), Katie Weber, Drew Weber, Hannah Weber, Hope Herten, Julia Weber, Annie Weber, Noel Weber (Alec), Geoff Weber, James Herten and Halle Weber, great grandfather of Theo Tanzer. Vern, known as “Mr. Gilmour,” served as a multi-sport coach, teacher, administrator, fundraiser and school spirit leader for 38 years at Gilmour Academy.
He retired from the school on his 65th birthday, but remained involved until his death. This past December he celebrated with his undefeated football teams: 1963, 1964 and 1968, with a reception at Gilmour. From 1960 to 1969 his football record was 77 wins-14 losses-and 2 ties.
His 25 year record was 139-82-11. He also served as head coach in basketball, golf, track, cross country and swimming. In 1974 he was Independent football coach of the year and in 1978 he was Independent basketball coach of the year.
He was Gilmour’s athletic director from 1960 to 1979. Vern was immortalized in the 1978 movie, “Animal House,” as Dean Vernon Wormer, as the film’s screenplay was written by a former Gilmour student, National Lampoon Magazine founder, Doug Kenney. He grew up in Solon, Ohio where he was an outstanding athlete for Solon High School, earning 12 letters in football, basketball, baseball and track.
He was All-East County League in football and basketball and in back-to-back seasons he led off the Solon State Championship 880 relay teams. He played fullback and linebacker at the University of Dayton where he met is wife, Beverly. He followed up his 1954 graduation from Dayton with a master’s degree in physical education at Ohio State.
He served in the Army in Korea for 16 months where he was on the coaching staff of the Far East Army team that won the Torii and Rice Bowls. When he returned home, he started his coaching career as defensive coordinator at Chaminade High School, which won the Dayton city championship in 1957. He then started his long coaching, teaching and administrative career at Gilmour in 1958.
In 1983, Gilmour named their football stadium Weber Stadium in his honor. At the dedication, they said Vern was “a rare man, whose many athletic laurels never distracted him from his primary job of helping young people grow”. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Vern Weber Scholarship fund at Gilmour Academy.
Mass of Christian Burial 1:00 PM Saturday, January 26th at Our Lady Chapel of Gilmour Academy, 2045 SOM Ctr. Rd. Gates Mills, OH 44040.
The family will receive friends at Gilmour Academy Tudor House, 34001 Cedar Rd. Gates Mills, OH 44040, FRIDAY 3:00 – 8:00 PM. Private Entombment Monday at Knollwood Cemetery.
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