Eugene Harry Weakland

Eugene Harry Weakland, age 88, of Strongsville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 16.  He was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on August 1, 1932 to the late Howard and Ruth Weakland (nee Mitchell).  He graduated from Rhodes High School on Cleveland’s west side, and from Fenn College (now Cleveland State University) where he was a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity. Gene Weakland led a life of service to the Scouting program and his church.  He was one of Scouting’s most celebrated men in the Greater Cleveland area, achieving 75 years in the program.  He holds the distinguished Silver Beaver, District Order of Merit, and Wood Badge awards among many others.  Over his adult life he served as scoutmaster for three area troops: 25, 226, and 636.  It was with Troop 636 that he was best known and made his greatest impact.  He started the troop from scratch in 1959 and grew it to one of the largest and most active troops in the county.  It is today still a thriving troop at Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church.  Many of his young charges grew up to become adult volunteers for Scouting themselves.   He was also involved in many other aspects of scouting.  He was a National Jamboree leader six different times, a crew advisor for five Philmont expeditions, a district commissioner, and initiated an international connection with scout troops in England and Scotland, taking boys to three international camps and hosting scouts from the UK here. Gene was a lifetime educator who was a fixture with the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools.  He was a business teacher there from 1961 to 1984 except for nine years when he held the position of Treasurer and Business Manager for Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools before returning to the classroom.  He also spent time on the faculty of Kent State University and Tri-C.  In addition, Gene along with his wife Joy were founding members of the Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church in Middleburg Heights.  He has held many positions there, including as Chair of the Administrative Council, Trustee, Treasurer, and served on many other committees.  Gene is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Joy (nee Chapman), and daughter Sue and was preceded in death by his son Jeff.  Over a thousand boys and men have looked up to Gene over the years as someone who impacted their lives and many to this day credit some of own their success in life to his influence.  Gene loved the outdoors and was an avid camper and backpacker.  He loved traveling with his family, and after retirement with his wife, Joy.A Celebration of Life service will be held in the future when it is safer for friends and family to gather.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Gene and Joy Weakland Campership Fund of the Lake Erie Scout Council, a fund set up to provide camping scholarships for scouts whose families are unable to pay for camping and high adventure trips, an important part of the scouting experience. (Lake Erie Council BSA, P.O. Box 93388, Cleveland, OH  44102 or at

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/BoyScoutsofAmerica-Cleveland/givinginpartnership.html)

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