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Fred G. Wessinger ’50

Frederic Wessinger ’50, July 3, 1996, in his Portland home after a long illness. He was a former president of Blitz Weinhard Brewing Company and a community supporter and philanthropist. After serving as a fighter pilot in World War II, he attended Reed for two years, then began working for his family’s brewing company. He became president in 1965 and helped develop Henry Weinhard’s private reserve beer, named for his great-grandfather. In 1979, he and his brother, trustee emeritus William Wessinger, sold the brewing company to Pabst Brewing. He then formed the McKenzie River Corporation, which made regional beers and soft drinks. He was active in the community and served on many boards and committees. He was on the board of Good Samaritan Hospital and was the first president of the Good Samaritan Foundation, which raised money to build the hospital’s cancer care center. He was president of the board of the Metropolitan Family Services board, the United Way, and the Oregon Historical Society. In 1980, the Wessinger family created the Wessinger Family Foundation, of which he was vice president and treasurer. He was also a director of the Blitz Weinhard Foundation. He and his wife, Beth Minott Wessinger, were co-chairs of the Reed Griffin Society for many years. In 1995, they donated a parcel of coastal property to the Oregon state parks and recreation department as an addition to Ecola State Park. Frederic is survived by his wife of 46 years, two sons, two daughters, two brothers, and five grandchildren.

Appeared in Reed magazine: November 1996