George M. Weed, former chief custodian for Buffalo schools
Sept. 10, 1927 - Oct. 31, 2009
George Morton "Mort" Weed, of Snyder, a chief engineer-custodian for the Buffalo schools who became the unofficial archivist for Buffalo school history, died Saturday in ElderWood Health Care at Oakwood, Amherst. He was 82.
Mr. Weed, whose father also was a Buffalo school engineer-custodian, retired in 1994 after 38 years with the school district.While he was still working, he took on a research project for an employees group and gathered old photos and other historical items related to the Buffalo schools. He published a 68-page book of his findings in 1984, then did an updated version in 2001.
He collected photos or sketches of nearly every city school building. In 1996, the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society recognized his efforts by adding part of his collection to its manuscript library.
He also gathered district directories from the 1800s, a program from the opening of All High Stadium, and horse-and-buggy era photos of retirement dinners, graduation classes and school outings.
Born in Clearfield, Pa., he served in the Navy during World War II. He was a member of the American Legion and AMVETS.
He was a past president of Local 409, International Union of Operating Engineers, and a past president of the Schoolmasters Association.
A tenor banjo player, he was past president and secretary of the Buffalo Banjo Band. He also sang and played trombone and banjo with the Hotsy Totsy Boys.
He also collected vintage steam gauges, often turning them into lamps.
Surviving are his wife, Joyce; a son, Charles; four daughters, Bonnie Malburg, Maureen Sessions, Nancy Lewis and Carol Jeziorski; a stepson, Daniel Fitzsimmons; three stepdaughters, Maureen Bitar, Kathleen Sullivan and Elizabeth Fitzsimmons Dube; and a sister, Lena Cunningham.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Pine Lawn Chapel, 2951 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga.
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