Norman H. Weissert Jr., of Columbia, formerly of Pittsburgh, died June 3, 2008, of complications from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, at the Ellicott City Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was 78.

Born July 29, 1929, in Pittsburgh, to Norman H. Sr. and Myring P. Weissert, he graduated from Shaler High School, in Glenshaw, Pa., in 1947.

He married Lois Trimble in 1955.

In 1951, he graduated from Grove City College, in Grove City, Pa., with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology.

Mr. Weissert worked as a chemist for Gulf Research and Development, in Pittsburgh, for nine years; Quaker State Oil and Refining Co., in Emlenton, Pa., for three years; and W.R. Grace, in Columbia, prior to being transferred to another division in Curtis Bay. He retired from W.R. Grace in the early 1990s after 27 years of service.

Mr. Weissert then worked first as a part-time employee, later as a full-time employee in the paint department at Hechinger's, in Columbia, for 10 years in the 1990s.

Family members recall that his passions included his religious faith, his family and the Boy Scouts of America, with which he began as a camping chairman in 1970 for Troop 371. Later, he served as Scoutmaster for Troops 361 and 794, and was recently the committee chair of Sea Scout Ship 361. All of the troops are based in Howard County.

He was in charge of several camporees and Klondike Derbies, also in Howard County, prior to becoming involved in Woodbadge, the Boy Scout's adult leader training. Mr. Weissert was selected in 1983 to be the Woodbadge course director, thus becoming a "four-beader" Scout. He served as a district commissioner and assistant district commissioner.

For his service with the Boy Scouts, he received the Silver Beaver award in 1981; the James West Fellow award in 2006; the Life, Family and Church religious award; and was inducted into the National Pike District's Scouter Hall of Fame this year.

In addition, he was elected to the Order of the Arrow, an honor group within Boy Scouts, and received the Virgil honor in 2007. Mr. Weissert was also active with the Eagle Board of Reviews, and worked with more than 60 boys in Howard County to help them earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Weissert was a member of Knox Presbyterian Church, in Knox, Pa.; Christ Memorial Presbyterian, in Columbia; and the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County for 38 years, where he served as an elder.

He was a 32nd-degree Mason and a member of the Shriner's Syria Temple, in Pittsburgh. In addition, he was a member of the Howard County Triad, and Seniors and Law Enforcement Together.

In addition to his wife, Lois, of 53 years, he is survived by a son and a daughter-in-law, David and Connie Weissert, of Darlington; two daughters and a son-in-law, Debbie and Ron Cotterman, of Greenville, S.C., and Beth Weissert, of Columbia; a brother and a sister-in-law, Robert and Marlene Weissert, of Cabot, Pa.; and four grandchildren, Jennie Weissert, Turner Cotterman, Nate Cotterman and Will Cotterman.

Funeral services were held June 9, 2008, at the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, in Columbia. The Rev. Morton Harris officiated.

Interment followed at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens, in Marriottsville.

Memorial donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Baltimore Area Council, Norman Weissert Memorial Fund, 701 Wyman Park Drive, Baltimore, MD 21211.

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