Published in the March 23, 2017 edition.
BURLINGTON — George Edward Weldon passed away peacefully, after a long illness, on March 21.
He was born in East Greenwich, RI, and was the only child of George and Helen (Perry) Weldon.
He grew up in Medford and graduated from Medford High School. He enlisted in the Army after high school and served in World War II. After the war, he went to Boston University and earned his bachelor of science degree. Over the years he returned to Boston University to earn two master degrees in Political Science and Education.
George and his wife Valerie have lived in Burlington for 49 years. They have two daughters, Lou Ann and Valerie, and four grandchildren.
George’s career was dedicated to providing the best education possible for his students. Being a principal was not his job, but his life. He was principal of the Walton, Doyle and West Ward Schools in Wakefield. He was recognized as one of Wakefield’s most distinguished educational leaders.
He entered the Wakefield schools in 1952 as a teacher at the Franklin School. In 1957, he moved to the position of supervising principal of the Franklin and Woodville schools, serving those schools until 1976 when he transferred to the West Side schools.
The hallmarks of his outstanding career were his total commitment to his responsibilities, intelligent approach to problem solving, excellence in communication skills, and a leadership style that provided his students with the very best educational opportunities.
Of particular note was George’s sensitivity and caring for children with special needs, giving him the recognition of being one of the first administrators in the state to demand better programs and opportunities for children with unique special needs. Upon his retirement, the George E. Weldon Scholarship Fund was established in his honor.
The final weeks of his life were spent in the hospice wing of Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford.
George is survived by his wife of 49 years Valerie R. (Fox). He was the loving father of Lou Ann Santos and her husband Manuel of Billerica and Valerie Clement and her husband Nelson of Hopedale. George was the proud grandfather of Steven and Anthony Santos and Sarah and Catherine Clement.
The funeral will be from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side), Saturday, March 25, at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m.
Visiting hours at the funeral home, Friday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington.
For directions obituary & online guestbook see www.stmargaretburlington.org or www.sullivanfuneralhome.net.
