Paul F. Weisend, professor emeritus who founded the contract management program, died July 27 following a long illness. He was 84.
Born in Pennsylvania, Weisend served as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force and received his juris doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in Texas. Weisend later earned his master of laws degree from Cornell University Law School in New York. He moved to California in 1968 and began a 24-year teaching career in the College of Business Administration.
Finance, Real Estate and Law Professor Greg Young remembers Weisend as a patriot who proudly hung the U.S. flag in his office and showed deference to his profession by wearing a suit and tie to every class.
He was also tirelessly devoted to his students.
“His contribution to the students was vast,” Young says. “He would expose them to the value of career preparation and have them embrace internships. He cared deeply that students have good job prospects.”
Weisend relied on his military background and used his extensive contacts in the defense industry to launch the contracts management program, a field of study few universities offered at the time. His legacy lives on today as students in the contract management program continue to be highly sought after by employers.
He was also instrumental in bringing two honor societies onto campus as well as four fraternities.
Weisend is survived by his wife of 47 years, Fern, brother-in-law Bob Shore and several cousins.
Funeral services were held Aug. 4 in Pennsylvania.