Wayne Curtis Weldon Jr., 35, former congressman's son

Wayne Curtis Weldon Jr., 35, a son of former Congressman Curt Weldon of Delaware County, was found dead Monday, Aug. 29, in his Boyertown apartment, his father said Saturday.

Mr. Weldon was found on his sofa. An autopsy was planned, his father said.

Mr. Weldon had Type 1 diabetes that required regular insulin injections. But it was his long struggle with drug addiction that the family wanted to be "transparent and open" about, Weldon said.

"We worked with Curt and went through the same trauma as other parents," said Weldon, a Republican who served in the U.S. House from 1987 to 2007, representing Pennsylvania's Seventh Congressional District.

"I don't want to hide the story. Families are having this trouble all over and they don't know what to do."

His son was disappointed after he had been recently passed over for an on-air job at Sportsradio 94WIP, Weldon said. When Mr. Weldon had missed out on the job, his father told him that he was proud of him.

"We refer to people with addiction as druggies and we push them away," he said. "We should not stigmatize these people."

According to the family, Mr. Weldon had addictions to opioids, or pain relievers, and benzodiazepines, which are antianxiety medications. Weldon said that his son had been addicted in the past to Oxycontin, a prescription painkiller.

A sports-loving child, Mr. Weldon had a passion and particular talent for hockey. He once scored five goals in a game for a local club, the Sun Valley Ice Hockey Team, his father said.

"A terrific hockey player" and "the biggest Flyers fan I knew" is how Mr. Weldon was described by Erik Westervelt, a childhood friend.

Mr. Weldon played baseball and the trumpet. He graduated in 1999 from Archmere Academy, a private school in Claymont, Del.

In addition to his father, Mr. Weldon is survived by his mother, Mary; a 7-year-old son, Bennett Curtis; sisters Karen, Kristin, and Kimberly; and a brother, Andrew.

Visiting hours will be Thursday, Sept. 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Aston Township Community Center, 3270 Concord Rd., Aston. A memorial service will begin there immediately after. Burial will be private.

Donations may be made to the local chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at 555 Croton Rd., Suite 111, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406.

bfernandez@phillynews.com

215-854-5897@bobfernandez1