Robert C. Weber Sr., 86, forensic engineer and champion of stepson with special needs
Mr. Weber was determined that his step-son, William S. Eitler, should receive suitable programming for autism. Once that was in place, Mr. Weber was at peace to "finally let go," his wife said.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 6, for Robert Charles Weber Sr., 86, of Doylestown and Delray Beach, Fla., a structural and forensic engineer, who died Friday, May 26, of heart failure at his home in Florida.
Mr. Weber was a respected executive in the field of engineering that examines the ability, or failure, of structures and their components to withstand catastrophic events such as earthquakes, said his wife, Lynn Berke Weber.
"He traveled a lot," she said, as he set up offices in Dallas, Denver, and Long Beach, Calif., for the S.T. Hudson International Co., for which he worked from the mid-1980s until 1993.
The Cherry Hill firm employs engineers and other experts to establish surety for bond obligations, and to resolve property damage insurance claims when structures fail, according to the company website.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Weber worked for Franklin & Lindsey, an engineering consultant in Philadelphia; the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corp. in Eddystone during the early 1950s; and the Sinclair Refining Co. in Sinclair, Wyo.
He served in the Army from 1955 to 1963 and was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant before taking a job as associate purchaser with the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Philadelphia. He rose to become president and CEO of Indepro Corp., a real estate subsidiary of Penn Mutual. "He would go to New York and negotiate the sale of buildings to the Chinese," for example, his wife said. "He and the Chinese ambassador were good friends."
After leaving Hudson in 1993, Mr. Weber decided to become a consultant. He was a founder and CEO of National Forensic Consultants Inc. in East Norriton Township, and founded Technical Advisors Inc., a home business incorporated in 2002. He retired in 2007.
Mr. Weber was affiliated with the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). In the late 1960s and 1970s, he served as vice president and then president of the Philadelphia chapter. He went on to become Mid-Atlantic regional president of the professional trade group.
Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Weber was the son of William F. Weber Sr. and Bertha Estelle Bartlett Weber. Mr. Weber graduated from Overbrook High School, where he excelled in baseball, football, and basketball.
While pursuing engineering studies at Drexel University, he served as a lifeguard at Sea Isle City, N.J. He completed a degree in civil engineering and held licenses to do business in several states.
He married Alice Faber Weber, and the couple had three children before divorcing. She died in 2014. In 1988, he married Lynn Berke.
Mr. Weber was active with several churches. He served on the board of directors for Pennridge Full Gospel Tabernacle-Blooming Glen in Bucks County, Worldwide Evangelical Ministries Inc. in Philadelphia, and New Life Christian Center–Assemblies of God church in Jamison.
In July 2005, the Webers went public in the Inquirer with the story of their experiences caring at home for William S. Eitler, Mr. Weber's stepson, who is autistic. At times, "Bill," as he is called, could be aggressive, mistrustful and remote, the couple told the newspaper.
"He played a key role in Bill's advancement," his wife said. "The two of them had such a bond, and before that, my husband had never met a special-needs kid in his life. He was so supportive and encouraging, and found so much potential in Bill."
With her husband's help, Weber connected with the Els for Autism Foundation in Jupiter, Fla., where Bill now takes courses in cooking, art, speech and music, with others on the autism spectrum, Weber said.
"My husband's burden was concern for Bill's future," Weber said. "He was able to see him have the proper programming through the foundation — Bill is a senior participant with all the other guys. I think after six heart attacks, that's what gave my husband the peace to finally let go."
In addition to his wife and stepson, Mr. Weber is survived by children Robert C. Weber Jr., Richard A. Weber, and Gail Weber Grady; a stepdaughter, Stephanie Eitler Araujo; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother; a nephew, and a niece.
Viewings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, at the Joseph A. Fluehr III Funeral Home, 241 E. Butler Ave., New Britain, and again starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, at Hopewell Christian Fellowship, 601 Hunsicker Rd., Telford. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at Hopewell. Entombment will follow in Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Prospectville.
Donations may be made to the Els for Autism Foundation, 18370 Limestone Creek Rd., Jupiter, Fla. 33458.