Richard N. Weeks, Who Made Transformational Contributions to Rutgers, Dies at 97
Weeks leaves a legacy in business and philanthropy
Richard N. (Dick) Weeks, who made one of the largest scholarship gifts ever to the university and also provided key support for the construction of the flagship engineering building that bears his name, died Aug. 17 at the age of 97.
Weeks, formerly of Mountainside, New Jersey, came to Rutgers to study engineering in 1946, alongside a wave of World War II veterans returning home and studying on the G.I. Bill. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in mechanical engineering and completed active duty in the U.S. Air Force in 1953. He went on to grow his family’s small marine construction company, Weeks Marine, into an industry leader.
“Dick Weeks was a towering figure in the marine industry, greatly admired for his leadership of Weeks Marine and the growth the company achieved during his tenure,” said Rutgers Engineering Dean Alberto Cuitiño. “He was a visionary not just as a businessman, but also in his dedication to Rutgers. His legacy will continue through his forward-thinking contributions supporting student success in engineering.”
He eventually took over as company president, as the company acquired an array of new equipment and diversified operations into heavy construction, dredging, and tunneling throughout North America, the Caribbean basin, and Oceania. Under his watch, the company was involved in several high profile jobs including hauling two million tons of debris from the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, salvaging the downed US Airways Flight 1549 flown by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger from the Hudson River and carrying the space shuttle Enterprise by barge from Kennedy Airport to its home at New York’s Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. The company also dismantled the Seaside Heights roller coaster swept out to sea by Superstorm Sandy.
Building a Bright Future
Weeks’ support for the School of Engineering was transformational. He donated $6 million toward construction of a flagship engineering building. Richard Weeks Hall of Engineering, which opened in 2018, is a four-story, 106,000-square-foot modern learning facility with leading-edge labs in advanced manufacturing, sustainability, aerospace and robotics, along with smart classrooms and collaborative student study space. Weeks Hall serves as the School of Engineering’s gateway facility on the Busch campus.
Weeks also established an endowed undergraduate scholarship fund for the school, the largest-ever scholarship gift to the School of Engineering at $10 million. He was a member to the School of Engineering Industry Advisory Board from 2011 until his death.
“Dick Weeks was a great champion for our School of Engineering, contributing through his generous philanthropy and as a long-serving member of the school’s Industry Advisory Board,” said Cuitiño. “Thanks to his vision and generosity, we have a facility where students can learn collaboratively with each other and faculty and the ability to provide scholarship support for deserving students for decades to come.”
School of Engineering Industry Advisory Board Chairman Remo Colarusso said Weeks was a loyal supporter of Rutgers.
“Dick was an unfailing source of guidance and support on the School of Engineering Industry Advisory Board and in individual encouragement to students,” Colarusso said. "He demonstrated the power of Rutgers alumni to embrace the future and change lives.”
In recognition of his vital contributions to engineering and business, he was the recipient of the School of Engineering’s Medal of Excellence in 2015, and he was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2017.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon in New Vernon, N.J.
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Please consider making a gift to the School of Engineering Scholarship Fund.
