[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE LIFE OF ERICH R. WEBER, OWNER OF WEBER'S BAKERY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2005

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory 
of a member of my community who truly exemplified the dedication and 
hard work required of his ancient profession.
  As the longtime owner and operator of a popular Chicago neighborhood 
bakery, Erich R. Weber never knew an easy day.
  For many years, the Chicago native would begin his workday at 2 a.m., 
breaking by mid-afternoon to have dinner with his family, then 
returning to the bakery later in the evening. Family members said that 
in addition to keeping the business side running, he was also the baker 
behind many of the pastries that disappeared quickly from the shelves.
  ``He was first and foremost a baker,'' said his son Michael. ``He 
wore his whites every day.''
  Mr. Weber, age 71, the longtime owner of Weber's Bakery on the 
Southwest Side, died April 7, 2005.
  Mr. Weber graduated from St. Rita High School in 1951. He received a 
bachelor's degree in baking science and management from Florida State 
University in Tallahassee in 1955. That same year he married his wife 
of 49 years, Bernadine, a fellow student.
  Mr. Weber learned to bake from his father, a German immigrant, who 
founded the bakery in Chicago in 1930. Originally on Kedzie Avenue, the 
bakery moved in the 1940s to 63rd Street, and in 1979 to 7055 W. Archer 
Ave. in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood.
  After serving 2 years in the Air Force during the late 1950s, Mr. 
Weber returned to Chicago, where he joined his father at the bakery. 
For several years, father and son served as co-presidents of the 
Chicago Lawn Chamber of Commerce.
  ``With his college background, my father brought an understanding of 
the business end of things,'' said Mr. Weber's son, Michael, who now 
owns and operates the bakery. ``He was technology wise and willing to 
take chances.''
  Family members said that when more Hispanic residents moved into the 
bakery's neighborhood, Mr. Weber introduced more ethnic pastries such 
as tres leche cake, or three milk cake, which became popular with his 
customers.
  ``He was very good at adapting to the changing needs and times of the 
neighborhood, but he never gave in to trends,'' his son said.
  The father of seven sons, including his late son, David, Mr. Weber 
often sought the help of family at the bakery, especially during 
holidays.
  ``One of my fondest memories is of Dad and me rolling hundreds of 
loaves of bread during Holy Week at Easter time, and all before the sun 
came up,'' said his son Michael. ``It was a chance to be alone with him 
and just talk.''
  After retiring in 1996, Mr. Weber spent much of his time traveling 
with his wife and enjoying winters at his home in Naples, FL.
  Mr. Speaker, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Weber and Mike 
Weber, as well as Mr. Weber's five other sons, Mark, Paul, Phillip, 
Stephen and Kurt; his brother, Gilbert; and his 21 grandchildren.

                          ____________________