1933 - 2003
Dr. Dean H. Weaver, beloved by his family, died early Thursday morning, June 5, 2003, in Salt Lake City, UT after a short illness.
A retired surgeon, he was born Feb 2, 1933, in Sterling, CO to Vera Grace Headrick and George St. Clair Weaver. His family moved to Salt Lake City in the early 1940s where Dean attended Salt Lake City schools and graduated from East High in 1951. Dr. Weaver received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Utah in 1955 and then attended the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle the following year. His study of dentistry became an introduction into the field of medicine and he was accepted at the University of Rochester School of Medicine where he earned his M.D. degree in 1961. He completed his Internship and Residency programs at New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center in general and thoracic surgery in 1967. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery in 1968. His faculty appointments throughout his career included Instructor in General Thoracic Surgery, New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center; University of Utah Medical School Instructor in Surgery; Clinical Instructor in Surgery, U of U; and finally, Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, U of U Medical School from 1990 until his retirement in 1999.
In 1970, Dr. Weaver entered into private practice in Salt Lake City where he was a member of the associate staffs of the old Primary Children's Hospital, LDS Hospital, and Salt Lake Regional (Holy Cross Hospital). From 1974, he was a physician and surgeon for Union Pacific Railroad Employees Hospital Association and was Chief when Union Pacific closed their Salt Lake Dispensary just before his retirement. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (F.A.C.S.), a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and President of the Salt Lake Surgical Society, 1989-90.
Dean Weaver loved medicine. He was a skilled surgeon and excellent diagnostician with great compassion for his patients, always aware of practicing the "art of medicine." He was a quiet, modest, complex man with a quick mind and a delightful, dry wit. Dean was the consummate student, gaining a thorough knowledge of whatever piqued his curiosity in the fields of philosophy, comparative religion, history, musicology, art history, economics and finance, and education. He had a great love of music and as a child played the violin. As a teenager, he taught himself to play the piano; happily entertaining whomever was in the same room with him and that instrument. As a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity while at the U of U, he gained quite a reputation for his renditions of boogie-woogie and later delighted his children and grandchildren with the same lively rhythm. He also learned several classical compositions without the benefit of reading music. He was a faithful supporter of the Utah Symphony and Opera.
Dean's intellectual pursuits were well balanced with his active participation in athletics, ranging from basketball as a youngster to tennis and skiing in which he became proficient in his early 50s. The last several years he was working on his golf game. He was also an avid sports fan. As much as he loved sports, he valued the good friends he played and associated with even more. Many friendships were life long and greatly treasured. All will remember his light, quick footsteps, penchant for being on time and the bow ties he loved to wear when traveling. He was a former member of the Alta Club, and belonged to the Salt Lake Swimming and Tennis Club and The Country Club at the time of his death.
Dean H. Weaver was a devoted family man, dedicated to his wife and children. He married Barbara Castleton in 1958. In 1973, he married Suzanne Hintze Reed. Dean and Suzanne enjoyed many fabulous trips together, fulfilling Dean's early dream of seeing and experiencing all the world has to offer. At home, they raised eight children who, along with his wife, Suzanne, survive him. They are: Michael H. Reed (Marianne); Kristen R. Wight (Christopher); Dean C. Weaver (Jasmine); Douglas H. Weaver; Rebecca R. Croft (David); Patrick Q. Weaver; Sarah Lynne Fitzpatrick (Douglas); and Edward Hintze Weaver. Dean adored each of his 22 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Dean is also survived by his dear sister, Eva W. Layton and brother-in-law, Jay; a cousin, Earl Weaver and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, a brother, St. Clair (Buck) Weaver, and two sisters, Elisabeth A. R. Weaver Goodwin and Marva W. Nelson.
Services will be Wed. June 11, 2003, 12 noon at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Friends may call Tues. June 10, 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary and Wed prior to the services 10:30-11:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.