Friends, colleagues and former students came to the Alumni Center Feb. 17 to honor Perry Weddle, a former Sacramento State philosophy teacher, who died on Jan. 2 from a long-term illness. He was 66 years old.

He was born in San Francisco on Sept. 29, 1939, where he lived with his younger sister and parents. He graduated from Sequoia Redwoods High School in 1957.

Weddle received his bachelor’s degree at San Jose State University, then traveled to Lincoln, Neb. He earned his master’s and doctorate in philosophy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

He applied to Stanford University for a teaching position, but was turned down. After marrying his wife, Mary, in 1964, Weddle applied and received a teaching position at Sac State. He was a professor in the Department of Philosophy from 1965 until he retired in 1995.

Ben Fuentes, a former student and friend of Weddle, said that part of his ashes would be spread in his native San Francisco. The rest of the ashes will be spread over the Sierra Nevada Mountains where he and his friends spent many days hiking.

During the memorial service, friends spent two hours telling jokes, sharing hiking stories and talking about his pet ducks.

“Perry was my teacher, but not in a classroom setting,” said Herb Rodriga, a friend of Weddle.

According to Fuentes, he was a “teacher by chat and conversation.” Even in a serious class, Weddle was able to bring warmth to his lectures.

Fuentes also admired how he could facilitate between the younger and older students in his classes.

Several members from the Silver King Unorganized Mountaineers came to pay respects to their friend. The group had taken numerous trips to the Sierras, usually in the springtime after the semester ended for the summer.

Jim Reed, a member of the association told stories of Weddle and his resourcefulness in the wilderness. Friends laughed at the memories of him pointing out which roots and plants were edible.

Besides his love of hiking, Weddle also loved to find bargains. Mary Weddle told an anecdote of him asking her to starch and iron his many white shirts. She refused and said to just send them to the dry cleaners. After he learned that it cost 25 cents to dry clean one shirt, he never wore another white shirt again.

He also loved to play the guitar and violin. Paul Trimble, a childhood friend, said that Weddle learned to play the guitar by 7 years old, eventually learning to play the Spanish and classical versions.

“He enjoyed music through his parents,” Trimble said. Weddle, when he was not teaching, wrote limericks. Friends joked about the stacks of limericks that he had sent over the years.

He also wrote a book in 1978, “Argument: A Guide to Critical Thinking.” He was in the process of revising it when he died, according to Mary Weddle.

Weddle became fluent in French through lessons; he then taught himself Italian. He also learned some Spanish. His knowledge of foreign languages aided him and his wife on their numerous trips to Europe.

Weddle leaves behind his wife of 44 years and many memories with his friends.

Jamie Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]