John Sedgewick Weigle (1941-2020)
John Sedgewick Weigle was born on April 10, 1941, in Ventura, California. He died on August 3, 2020, in Oxnard, California at the age of 79. He had two brothers, but only one survives. His father was Ralph Sedgewick Weigle and mother Mary Elizabeth Craven. John was named for his Grandfather John Sedgewick Weigle, all of Ventura, California.
He graduated Ventura Senior High School (class of 1959), and continued his education at California State University, Northridge (class of 1964). On facebook, he says, “My interests include computers, stamps (esp. Ventura County postal history and post office seals of the world, UFOs,) and editing (former work and club newsletters).”
On Facebook his favorite quote is listed as “Live and let live”
John was a veteran having served in the 60’s in the U.S. Army.
When John retired from his work at the Ventura County Star (60’s-February 2011) , he continued writing and editing club newsletters for the Ventura County Philatelic Society (VCPS), the Federated Philatelic Clubs of Southern California (FPCSC), and Channel Islands PC Users Group (CIPCUG).
The CIPCUG newsletter is called The Outer Edge and all 252 published before his death are available on the web at http://www.cipcug.org/Toe/Toe.cfm
He was a prolific writer with maybe thousands of articles and newsletter listed on the web. Some of his favorite subjects were philately, youth philately, philatelic happenings in Southern California or Ventura County, UFOs, the postal history of Ventura County and computers.
Some philatelic articles can be found on the SESCAL website at https://sescal.org/literature-exhibit/ and all the newsletters (42) about SESCAL since January 2000 and the Federation are on the SESCAL website at https://sescal.org/history/
He was a member of the Sunrise Optimist Club of Ventura.
He was chairman of the annual Youth Stamp Fair. In John’s own words, “The event is sponsored by the Ventura County Philatelic Society and the Anacapa Middle School Stamp Club and, despite the name, is open to everyone who wants to learn more about stamp collecting, which has been called the king of hobbies and the hobby of kings”.
John never married but devoted his time to writing and support of the organizations he loved. He was a leader, writer and editor for all of these organizations. He will be missed.
He is survived by his brother James Ray Weigle of Tooele, Ut. and James’ children, John also had a half brother Dick Craven Hope (1929-2004).
John’s remains will be cremated and the ashes thrown at sea.
Note: This is a brief summary of some of his accomplishments. A longer and more complete memorial is planned. I have not yet mentioned his leadership roles. Please help by telling about your contacts with John and your knowledge of what he achieved. Your comments, pictures, and memories can be submitted below. L.M.Evans-de Violini
8/11/2020: My thanks to Dr. Jerome (Jerry) V.V. Kasper who provided incredible help to me in learning about all the things John did. There is more information that both Jerry and his wife Jean helped find that will be presented here as time allows.
Published in Ventura County Star from Sep. 8 to Sep. 9, 2020.
I think this picture is the same one I used in the obit above, but notice that the “Star” had more of the original picture and his pocket full of notes, pencils and pens shows. Great picuture! To see the original notice and comments from friends go to:
Ventura County Star Obit
I just heard the sad news about John Weigle and Jay Shoemaker. I have wonderful memories of both of them and they will be sorely missed. John was the cornerstone to the VCPS. His many years of exemplary service to the club and the shows was second to none. His enthusiasm for the hobby of stamp collecting spread to probably thousands of young and old through the years.
Jay Shoemaker was an extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic member of VCPS. He loved sharing the stamp collecting hobby with both young and old. He always came to meetings with big smiles and little gifts of candy or stamps for everyone. He was like everyone’s Grandpa of the club and we all loved him for it!
May they Rest In Peace and know they were deeply loved. Sally Knight
Editor, John Weigle, wins the FPCSC Distinguished Service Award 6 October 2001
The plaque is inscribed with the words: “In Recognition and Appreciation, for Valuable Contributions to the Advancement and Enrichment of Philately.” And John was truly the embodiment of these words.
John had a lifelong commitment to stamp collecting and sharing of the hobby with others.
He has spent his life in Ventura County near Los Angeles County. He has served the Ventura County Philatelic Society in various capacities, including editing the stamp club newsletter, and functioning as the General Chairman the club’s annual exhibition VENPEX. He has served as an officer of the FPCSC.
He was a dedicated collector of Official Seals of the United States Postal Service, and of the postal history of Ventura County.
John has authored biweekly columns on philately for the Ventura County Star for many years.
He introduced young people to stamp collecting for almost 20 years by promoting the stamp club at the Anacapa Middle School. He helps sponsor and promote the Anacapa Middle School annual Youth Stamp Fair, which is held two weeks after SESCAL.
He was a long time member of the American Philatelic Society having joined in 1975. His membership number was 077864.
John was not at the banquet to receive this award. Instead, although John has in the past taken vacation from his job at the Ventura Star to attend SESCAL, the full measure of this man’s dedication to our hobby is that he decided this year to use his vacation time to put on the annual Youth Stamp Fair for the Anacapa Middle School.
Before receiving this award in 2001, he had been a Vice-President of the FPCSC. In more recent years he became President of the Federation and tackled the chairmanship of SESCAL at a critical time. He was a sincere, fair man who wanted the best for the show
He was a passionate philatelist.
Note: Much of this information comes from the speech made by Joe Clary at the 2001 SESCAL banquet.
John Weigle will be missed by all his many friends! John chaired the Youth stamp Fair for 25 of the 29 years and was great at getting prizes and items for the goodie bags.
John volunteered at the Ventura County Fair for over 26 years. He entered award winning stamp exhibits including “Early Postmarks of Ventura County,” Interrupted Mail,” and Pony Express.” He judged exhibits and made sure all the youth entries received awards and stamp packets. In his retirement from the Ventura County Star, he sat on our stamp table in the Gem and Mineral Building every night shift. He received the “Spotlight Award” for Hobbies two times.
John presented his “Early Postmarks of Ventura County” at the Dudley House Museum Annual Meeting and Dudley Docent Potluck. He also presented at the Program honoring the Post Office Murals stamp dedication ceremony in downtown Ventura.
John was a longtime Board Member of the Ventura County Philatelic Society, Past President and Secretary, Chair of VENPEX and received Member of the Year 2 times.
John was a great friend and everyone will miss his articles on Stamps in the Ventura County Star!