Evan Weiner (78) went to be with our Lord on April 21 at the Chaplaincy Hospice House in Kennewick. He was born in Los Angeles on November 2, 1937, to Otto and Elizabeth Weiner. Evan lived in Richland for 44 years.

He received both degrees, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and his M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology.   Later he earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at UCLA with an emphasis on Solid Mechanics, Mathematics and Fluid Mechanics. While working on his Ph.D. he worked part time at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena.

Evan was a very respected engineer.  He had extensive structural practice in civil and mechanical engineering with computer applications.  Above all he was highly analytical and had the ability to convey design and analysis requirements to management and customers.

Evan’s professional experience included several years at Aerojet in Sacramento; work at Westinghouse-Hanford and ICF Kaiser Companies as a Fellow Engineer from 1972-1996. He was a consultant for Northrop Grumman from 1997-1998 and also a consultant for British Nuclear Fuels in Richland from 1998-1999. From 2000-2012 he worked at Bechtel Corporation putting his analytical skills to work.  

Evan also taught graduate and senior level courses in finite elements, elasticity and professional engineering at WSU Tri-Cities from1981-2000. He presented and published twelve papers at national and international conferences.

Evan was a U.S. Navy Reserve Officer and was on active duty in shipboard engineering from 1961-1964.  While doing duty in San Francisco on board the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, he met and married his wife, Kathy, two years later.

It came as a shock when in March he was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive form of thyroid cancer. This was a man who worked to keep himself healthy.  He had been skiing and bike riding in January.  It was obvious how much his children and wife loved him and wanted him to keep living, with research and contact with the most knowledgeable doctors in the U S.

Upon retirement Evan wished to give back to his community.  For several years he would go to the libraries to help people with their taxes. His greatest pleasure that gave him a sense of fulfillment was being a Master Gardener.  He was on the planning committee for the demonstration garden in Kennewick.  All the produce is given to the local food banks.

Evan was a devoted husband and father.  Early on, attention to his families needs and wishes(within reason) was a top priority. Cheering his son, Jeff on at his basketball and baseball games was such fun.  He and both sons spent summers back packing in the Cascade Mountains, returning home tired, looking like grizzled mt. men but happy.  His daughter Cecille would accompany them on trips as well. Evan’s many scouting trips with son Mike; portaging canoes around Priest Lake were an especially fond memory.

 As a family and with a group of friends they enjoyed camping on the Bumping River and for eleven years he and Kathy with their tent trailer found their little paradise at Soda Springs.  He and Kathy enjoyed lovely and interesting trips with friends in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii.

Evan was a member of several professional societies, and Christ the King Church.

He is survived by his wife Kathleen (Kathy); sons Mike (Kim) of Little Rock, AR, Jeff in Seattle, and daughter Cecille in Richland; three grandchildren, Adam, Maddy, and Luke; and nine nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Adam.

The funeral will take place at Christ the King Church, 1111 Stevens Dr. on Sat. April 30 at 11:00.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Datta, the attending staff at the Hospice House, all of whom were so gracious in taking wonderful care of him in his final days.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Hospice at the Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat, Kennewick, 99336 or a favorite charity.