Eugene N. Fairweather, age 83, of Woburn passed away peacefully at the Wilmington Health Care Center on June 2nd, following short period of declining health. In 1951 he married his high school sweetheart the late Lorraine (Antunes) Fairweather, and in 1959 settled in Woburn where they raised their growing family. Together they were married 59 years prior to her passing. Born in Somerville he was the son of the late Nelson and Julia (Springs) Fairweather.
Eugene graduated from Somerville High School in 1949. He joined MIT's Instrumentation Lab in 1952 working in the drafting department. Later in 1952 he was inducted into the Army and honorably served as a Corporal during the Korean War and was discharged from active duty in 1954. He returned to the MIT Lab and also attended Northeastern University where he received his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1958.
Eugene continued to work for MIT/Draper Labs his whole career for the next 43 years before retiring in 1993. Some of his career highlights was his work on the navigation systems for the Apollo Space Program that put a man on the moon. He worked on the Poseidon and Trident missile defense programs.
Throughout his life, Eugene was an avid golfer and bowler and was always a big fan of the Boston pro sports. He also enjoyed woodworking and painting and was just a talented man and loved to work with his hands. For many years, together with his family they would spend time traveling and always enjoyed the annual vacation camping at Point Sebago Campground in Maine. He was happiest when he was together with his children and especially his grandchildren, who he was so proud of, and attending all of their different activities that they were involved in.
In addition to his late wife, Eugene is predeceased by his son, David E. Fairweather, and sister, Dorothy Stone.
He is survived by his children, William Fairweather and his wife Kathleen, Alan Fairweather and his wife Laurel, all of Woburn, Brenda Fairweather of Wilmington, Robert Fairweather of Tewksbury, Patricia MacInnis and her husband Myron of Hudson, NH, Donna Vigneau and husband Thomas of Wilmington, Angela Powers and husband Gary of Hanover, Sheila Lynch and her husband Daniel of Tewksbury. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Brother of Ronald Fairweather of Billerica, Wayne Fairweather of Littleton, Shirley Weber of CA. Further survived by many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be conducted in the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., WOBURN, Saturday, June 6th, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Friday from 4 thru 8 p.m. Services will conclude with military honors and burial at Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Eugene's memory to the Children's Hospital Trust, 1 Autumn St., #731, Boston, MA 02215-5301 or Founders Affiliate American Heart Assoc. PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.