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George E. Weaver, 73, philosophy professor

George E. Weaver, 73, of Havertown, a longtime professor of philosophy at Bryn Mawr College, died Friday, Dec. 4, of multiple organ failure at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

George E. Weaver, 73, of Havertown, a longtime professor of philosophy at Bryn Mawr College, died Friday, Dec. 4, of multiple organ failure at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

At the time of his death, Dr. Weaver was the college's Harvey Wexler Professor Emeritus of Philosophy.

He had received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1969, he joined the Bryn Mawr faculty as a lecturer in the philosophy department. He rose to assistant professor in 1971, associate professor in 1976, and full professor in 1982.

That same year, he became department chair, a post he held for six years. In 1996, he was appointed the Harvey Wexler Professor of Philosophy. He served until retiring in 2008.

Dr. Weaver's courses on discrete mathematics and advanced mathematical logic were cross-listed in the philosophy and mathematics curriculums.

His course in introductory logic drew the highest enrollment of any class in the philosophy department. "It was a staple for pre-law students, some of whom notably went on to become federal court judges," his family said in a tribute.

He served on the curriculum committee, the task force on the college's graduate school in the mid-1980s, and the committee on academic cooperation with Haverford College in the early 1990s.

Throughout his career, Dr. Weaver's intellectual interests spanned the fields of philosophy, mathematics, linguistics and computer science. He helped guide development of the computer science program at the college.

He also contributed to the "Mathematics and Its Application" series with his book Henkin-Keisler Models in 1997, and to many academic journals.

Deepak Kumar, professor of computer science and a friend, said Dr. Weaver "taught with passion and rigor, and cared deeply about his courses and the students. Students who studied with him had a deep respect and admiration for him."

An associate professor of computer science, Doug Blank, said Dr. Weaver's love for his research and students endured, even after retirement.

Since the two were neighbors, Blank saw Dr. Weaver "alternately working out a problem on a whiteboard on his front porch, and hitting golf balls in the backyard."

Born in Akron, Dr. Weaver grew up helping in the family produce business in Ohio. He worked his way through college by moving furniture in the summer as a member of Teamsters Local 348.

He and his family lived in Havertown for 39 years.

Dr. Weaver had a keen interest in Civil War history because he was related on his mother's side to Gen. William T. Sherman.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary L. Hediger; sons Matthew E., Christopher, Patrick and Adam; and a grandchild. He is also survived by his former wife, Stephanie Weaver.

At Dr. Weaver's request, there will be no religious service.

Memorial donations may be made to the University of Pennsylvania Arts and Sciences Graduate Fellowship Fund, 3600 Market St., Suite 300, Philadelphia 19104, Attn: Robbie Hain.

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