Former PLU president and Tacoma activist dies at 90. ‘He was there to serve others’

Those who knew and loved Eugene Wiegman remember him for his lifetime of community activism and his generous spirit.

Wiegman, who was president of Pacific Lutheran University from 1969 to 1974, passed away on Wednesday, July 1 at age 90 surrounded by his family.

According to son-in-law Wayne Wentz, Wiegman was born Oct. 27, 1929 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He married his wife Kathleen in 1952, and they moved to Tacoma in 1969 when he was elected president of PLU. They raised six children: Kattie, Rose Marie, Mark, Jeanine, Gretchen and Matthew.

Wiegman was a passionate community leader, driven by his strong faith.

“He’s always been an activist for minority communities,” Wentz said.

Wiegman worked in Washington, D.C. in the 1960s, where he was involved with Food for Peace and Federal City College, which is now part of the University of the District of Columbia.

Wentz said community health care and support for children and families were causes close to Wiegman’s heart. He was the CEO of Child and Family Guidance Center for 11 years. He helped found Community Health Care and was also on the board of Tacoma General Hospital. He also was a member of the Urban League of Tacoma and chaired the Urban Coalition from 1969-1974.

Former Tacoma City Manager Jim Walton, who met Wiegman during his time at the Urban Coalition, remembered Wiegman as a faith-driven leader who held himself to a high standard.

“He was always proactive and positive. He had this very high sense of accountability to others,” Walton said. “He was there to serve others, and so he had a high expectation for how he would do that.”

Walton said Wiegman’s legacy is his service to the people of Tacoma.

“His service to this community and to his family and everybody else was his story. And that’s the blessing that he was,” Walton said. “That’s what I’ll always remember — how he served.”

Wentz said Wiegman was ordained as a minister in 1987 and practiced at Luther Memorial Church in Tacoma and All Saints’ Lutheran Church in Auburn. He also helped restructure First Baptist Church into Urban Grace.

Samuel Torvend, professor of religion at Pacific Lutheran University and associate priest at Christ Church, remembered Wiegman as a generous, lifelong learner. He knew Wiegman through their shared faith work and as a student during Wiegman’s tenure as president of PLU.

Torvend said Wiegman’s strong faith was the reason he was so involved in politics and community service. He recalled Wiegman coming up to him after his sermons to discuss the political and social dimensions of scripture.

“We always had great conversations around that,” Torvend said.

Torvend said Wiegman went to Urban Grace every Sunday before attending Christ Church to speak with people who came to eat.

“He was there, greeting every person who was in need of a free meal,” Torrent said. “He got to know people well. He befriended people.”

Torvend said Wiegman always focused on helping those who were marginalized.

“He knew on the ground what many people were struggling with in Tacoma both in terms of not having access to health care, mental health care, not having access to affordable housing. People who many times were treated like second-class citizens or worse,” Torvend said. “The generosity and magnanimity of his heart were always on display, especially working with people who were terribly disadvantaged in our society.”

Wiegman was a board member at Bellarmine Preparatory School, Nativity House, Faith Home and the Northwest African American Museum. He also was involved with the Metro Parks Development Council, Kiwanis Club, Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, United Way of Pierce County and the Salvation Army Board of Advisors, among others.

Wentz said Wiegman loved listening to music. He served on the board of Tacoma Philharmonic beginning in 1971 and was briefly president of that board. He was also on the board of the Second City Chamber Orchestra.

Wentz said his father-in-law was a proud Eagle Scout who remained involved with the Scouts throughout his life.

“His spirit drove him to do these things,” Wentz said. “He just loved being busy. You couldn’t stop him from doing things.”

Weigman is survived by his wife and his five youngest children, as well as 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren. Two more great-grandchildren are on the way.

Memorial services are yet to be scheduled in consideration of COVID-19. In lieu of flowers, his family asks donations be made in Wiegman’s name to the Salvation Army, Community Health or Pacific Harbors Council, Boy Scouts of America.