Active 9 years, 10 months ago
1953-2026
Richard S. Weeks
Richard S. Weeks of New Vernon, NJ passed away on October 4, 2026, at the age of 73. Born on March 23, 1953, he grew up in Mountainside, NJ, attending its public schools. He earned a joint BA-MA in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University in 1975 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1977. Rich was elected as a member of the National Academy of Construction (NAC) in 2012 with his selection to NAC based on “his clear leadership in the dredging and marine construction sector”.
Rich was the fourth generation of his family to work at Weeks Marine, Inc. From his summer employment as a teenager at its Port Newark Yard, Rich worked successively with the company eventually serving as president, CEO and chair of the Weeks Marine Board of Directors.
Under Rich's leadership, the company grew from a local New York area stevedoring company to an international business that included dredging, construction, coastal restoration, marine transportation, tunneling and aggregate sales. Rich worked in all parts of the business and was very knowledgeable in various aspects of the heavy marine equipment business. He positioned Weeks Marine as a sought after joint venture partner on major marine projects throughout the USA, Canada, and Latin America. One of Rich's unique contributions was to bring a business and strategic perspective to Weeks Marine. Making the right acquisitions at the right time, buying or building state of the art marine vessels, and expanding into new markets were all decisions that resulted in a large, diversified marine construction and dredging firm. From safety to operating results to enlightened leadership, Rich led the way in bringing the latest technology, work processes and management tools to the company resulting in rapid growth and making Weeks Marine a leader in marine construction in the Western Hemisphere.
Rich built a unique, successful business in the most capital-intensive sector of the construction industry. The company's revenue expanded from seven million dollars when he began in 1977 to a billion dollars in 2022 and from one hundred employees to 1,500. In 2022, Rich oversaw the sale of Weeks Marine to Kiewit International.
During Rich's tenure, Weeks Marine responded to such crises as the 9/11 cleanup, Hurricane Katrina, The BP oil spill in Louisiana, Super Storm Sandy and recovery of the fuselage of Flight 540 (Miracle on the Hudson). Other important projects included construction of New York City's Little Island, work on the Tappan Zee and Governor Mario Cuomo Bridges, tunneling for the Toronto-York (Canada) subway extension, the Pearl Harbor Outfall and placement of the Enterprise Space Shuttle on board the Intrepid Museum.
Rich was a longtime member of the MOLES (past President) and Beavers, internationally recognized heavy construction organizations. Both honored him with their highest award for outstanding achievement in construction. In addition, he was a member of the Dredging Contractors of America (past President), and the Construction Industry Round Table among others. He served on the boards of The New Jersey Marine Science Consortium, The New York Maritime Association and The Waterfront Alliance.
An elder in The Presbyterian Church (USA) and an active member of The First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, NJ, Rich served as an emergency medical technician (EMT) with the New Vernon Rescue Squad for several years. He was a surrogate father to four children from Northern Island whom his family hosted for 12 years through Project Children. He was a major supporter of the Rutgers School of Engineering, Homeless Solutions, Inc. and the Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund with which he worked recently to bring several young women to the US for education, careers and safety. Most recently Rich served on the boards of the Newark (NJ) Boys and Girls Club and the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins.
Rich viewed his participation in a clinical trial of “daraxonrasib” for advanced pancreatic cancer as more than a life-extending gift; it was also a chance to help others who might one day face the same devastating disease. He made the most of each day during his final ten months, cherishing time with family and friends, generously sharing his business wisdom with colleagues, traveling, landscaping and gardening.
In all he did, Rich demonstrated the intelligence, determination and generosity that defined him. Despite his many accomplishments and honors, Rich was particularly proud of his family. He and his wife Candace, who survives him, raised their three children in New Vernon: Alexandra Weeks (Cheyne Owens), Katherine Konialian (Michael), and Richard Matthew Weeks (Amanda Stevens). He also is survived by five grandchildren: Eleanor, William and Henry Weeks Owens and Jack and James Konialian.
—Dave Nash and Hugh Rice
Rich was the fourth generation of his family to work at Weeks Marine, Inc. From his summer employment as a teenager at its Port Newark Yard, Rich worked successively with the company eventually serving as president, CEO and chair of the Weeks Marine Board of Directors.
Under Rich's leadership, the company grew from a local New York area stevedoring company to an international business that included dredging, construction, coastal restoration, marine transportation, tunneling and aggregate sales. Rich worked in all parts of the business and was very knowledgeable in various aspects of the heavy marine equipment business. He positioned Weeks Marine as a sought after joint venture partner on major marine projects throughout the USA, Canada, and Latin America. One of Rich's unique contributions was to bring a business and strategic perspective to Weeks Marine. Making the right acquisitions at the right time, buying or building state of the art marine vessels, and expanding into new markets were all decisions that resulted in a large, diversified marine construction and dredging firm. From safety to operating results to enlightened leadership, Rich led the way in bringing the latest technology, work processes and management tools to the company resulting in rapid growth and making Weeks Marine a leader in marine construction in the Western Hemisphere.
Rich built a unique, successful business in the most capital-intensive sector of the construction industry. The company's revenue expanded from seven million dollars when he began in 1977 to a billion dollars in 2022 and from one hundred employees to 1,500. In 2022, Rich oversaw the sale of Weeks Marine to Kiewit International.
During Rich's tenure, Weeks Marine responded to such crises as the 9/11 cleanup, Hurricane Katrina, The BP oil spill in Louisiana, Super Storm Sandy and recovery of the fuselage of Flight 540 (Miracle on the Hudson). Other important projects included construction of New York City's Little Island, work on the Tappan Zee and Governor Mario Cuomo Bridges, tunneling for the Toronto-York (Canada) subway extension, the Pearl Harbor Outfall and placement of the Enterprise Space Shuttle on board the Intrepid Museum.
Rich was a longtime member of the MOLES (past President) and Beavers, internationally recognized heavy construction organizations. Both honored him with their highest award for outstanding achievement in construction. In addition, he was a member of the Dredging Contractors of America (past President), and the Construction Industry Round Table among others. He served on the boards of The New Jersey Marine Science Consortium, The New York Maritime Association and The Waterfront Alliance.
An elder in The Presbyterian Church (USA) and an active member of The First Presbyterian Church of New Vernon, NJ, Rich served as an emergency medical technician (EMT) with the New Vernon Rescue Squad for several years. He was a surrogate father to four children from Northern Island whom his family hosted for 12 years through Project Children. He was a major supporter of the Rutgers School of Engineering, Homeless Solutions, Inc. and the Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund with which he worked recently to bring several young women to the US for education, careers and safety. Most recently Rich served on the boards of the Newark (NJ) Boys and Girls Club and the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins.
Rich viewed his participation in a clinical trial of “daraxonrasib” for advanced pancreatic cancer as more than a life-extending gift; it was also a chance to help others who might one day face the same devastating disease. He made the most of each day during his final ten months, cherishing time with family and friends, generously sharing his business wisdom with colleagues, traveling, landscaping and gardening.
In all he did, Rich demonstrated the intelligence, determination and generosity that defined him. Despite his many accomplishments and honors, Rich was particularly proud of his family. He and his wife Candace, who survives him, raised their three children in New Vernon: Alexandra Weeks (Cheyne Owens), Katherine Konialian (Michael), and Richard Matthew Weeks (Amanda Stevens). He also is survived by five grandchildren: Eleanor, William and Henry Weeks Owens and Jack and James Konialian.
—Dave Nash and Hugh Rice
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