Roy F. Weston, a pioneer in natural economics, died in his Pennsylvania home on August 18, 2007. He was 96.

Weston's gift to the School of Public Policy in 2004, was the largest contribution made by an individual in the School's history. The gift endowed the Roy F. Weston Chair in Natural Economics and provided start-up funding to launch an initiative in Natural Economics.

“I have known Mr. Weston for nearly two decades and from the first day appreciated his razor-sharp intellect, great wit, entrepreneurship, social mind and consistent ability to be ahead of his time,” said Matthias Ruth, holder of the Weston Chair and Director of the Center for Integrative Environmental Research.  “In his work as a business man and engineer he has continuously challenged the status quo, worked across natural and social sciences - all with the goal of making the world a better place.  His endorsement of my research has been a great honor, and his gift to the school has helped us promote research and education "the Weston way"--combining engineering with policy in our new Masters in Engineering and Public Policy Program, connecting research across campus through our new Center for Integrative Environmental Research, and pushing the envelope on  what Mr. Weston called Natural Economics - the complete integration of fundamental (natural) principles of system operation with social science theory, modeling, and practice.” Ruth also serves as Director of the School's Environmental Policy Program, and Co-Director of the Engineering and Public Policy Program, a joint program in the A. James Clark School of Engineering and School of Public Policy.

Weston was the retired CEO of Weston Solutions, Inc., which he founded in 1957. The firm is among the leading environment organizations serving business and government in the areas of environmental remediation, redevelopment, and management.

"Roy was a great friend of the School of Public Policy,” said Steve Fetter, dean of the School of Public Policy. “I had the pleasure of meeting him for lunch last year, and I was impressed by his passion for sustainable development and his interest--even at age 95--in current research."

Weston received numerous awards for his contribution to our society, including the 1973 National Engineer of the Year by the National Society of Professional Engineers; Election to National Academy of Engineering in 1976; 1990 Entrepreneur of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award by Ernst and Young, Inc. and Merrill Lynch; American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Lawrence K. Cecil Award in 1993; and Technology Council of Greater Philadelphia's Legend CEO Award in 1994. He was named in Engineering News-Record 125th Anniversary issue “125 Years…125 Top People” in 1999. As recently as April 2007, he was recognized as a Hall of Fame Award winner by the Chester County, Pennsylvania Economic Development Council for his social imperative, addressing the environmental threat to the global quality of life.

Weston was a tireless advocate and supporter of environmental education. At the University of Wisconsin, his alma mater, he and his wife Madeleen donated funds to establish the Roy F. Weston Center for Sustainability to define, solve, and prevent environmental problems through a rational basis of informed decisions and processes. Donations by Weston also support research and laboratory facilities at Drexel University.

Weston received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and his M.C.E. from New York University. He received a Doctor of Engineering (Honoris Causa) from Drexel University in 1981 and an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Wisconsin in 1995. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in 18 states and a Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.

Excerpted from Weston Solutions' Press Release