Douglas W. Wesner, 64, Exeter Twp., died Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011 in Reading Hospital.  He was the husband of Betty G. (Groller) Wesner.

Born in Reading, PA, he was a son of Jean L. (Lincoln) Wesner, Exeter Township, and the late Judge Grant E. Wesner.

Doug was a teacher for many years. He started with Tulpehocken School District in 1970 for a year. He then spent the remainder of his career with the Exeter Township School District, first at Lorane Elementary and then was a Reading Specialist and History teacher at the Junior high school until he retired. Following retirement he was a reporter for Berks Mont Newspaper.

He graduated from Exeter High School in 1965; West Chester University in 1969, with a B.A. in History; and Kutztown University with a Masters in Education.

In addition to his wife and mother, survivors include a daughter, Sarah E., wife of Samuel W. Greer III of Philadelphia; grandchildren: Reilly, Grace and Amanda Greer; and a brother, Jonathan L. Wesner of Reading.  He was predeceased by a son, Joshua W. Wesner, on April 20, 2000.

Doug loved everything having to do with his grandchildren.

Andrea (Rosenthal) Malek, Ph.D., of Colts Neck, NJ, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 22 at St. Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Long Branch, NJ, with her family at her side.

Andrea was born and raised in Reading, PA, and was graduated from Exeter Township High School. She received her undergraduate degree from Penn State, her Masters from the University of Pittsburgh and her Doctorate from Fordham
University as a Psychologist.

Dr. Malek taught special education in New York City and was the special education supervisor for the New York City Schools. Dr. Malek was a professor of special education for CUNY and most recently was a professor of special education at Monmouth University, NJ, where she retired a few years ago.

Dr. Malek published several works in professional magazines; she was an esteemed educator and presenter at International forums for special education, including Council for Exceptional Children. Dr. Malek’s publications were well-documented and known throughout the country by special education professionals.

Andrea loved traveling the world, and her boat in Boca Raton, Fla., where she had a retirement home and enjoyed the wonderful water view in her back yard. She loved her many friends scattered throughout the world. But her greatest love was her long list of family members and grandchildren. Her favorite thing to do in recent years was doting
on her grandchildren, as well as her parents.

Scott D. Hafer, 56, Jacksonwald, died Tuesday, Feb. 21, 1012 in his residence. He was the husband of Diane V. (Galloway) Hafer.  Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Donald D. Hafer and Janet M. F(Fisher) hafer of Reiffton.

In addition to his mother and wife, survivors include daughters: Heather L., wife of Timothy N. Claus, of Exeter Twp., and Stephanie L. Hafer and Jill C. Hafer, both at home.  There are also a brother, Steven E. Hafer, husband of Virginia, of Gibraltar; and a sister, Sally M., wife of Kevin S. Kennedy, of Exeter Twp.

Mary M. Schildt, 72, of Exeter Twp. passed away Monday, July 29, 2013 in her residence. She was the wife of Donald N. Schildt. Born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, she was a daughter of the late Marshall W. and Gladys I. (Ray) Field.

Mary was a graduate of Exeter High School in 1959. She began her career working at Western Electric, where she met her loving husband. Later, she made a lifetime career working at Boscov’s East, as a well-known and recognized sales associate.

In addition to her husband, Mary is survived by a daughter, Denise R., wife of Dr. Martin Fried of Bear Creek, PA; sister, Marilyn, wife of Bill Trawitz of Reiffton; and a granddog, Nikka.

Michael Thomas Chobot, 26, passed away August 6, 2013, surrounded by his loving family in his Exeter Township residence after a 22-month battle with Leukemia.

Born in Reading, he was a son of Thomas Michael and Gwyneth (Negley) Chobot, Exeter Township.

He was a 2005 graduate of Exeter High School, where he ran cross country and in 2009 he earned his BA in Film and Video from Penn State University.

Michael was a sound editor and mixer for DuArt Film and Video, Manhattan, NYC. He was nominated for a National Emmy Award in July 2013 for his work on “An Original DUCKumentary” in the category of Outstanding Music and Sound.

He loved composing music and reciting movie quotes. He also enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, kayaking and long-distance running.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his siblings: Jayne (Chobot), wife of Gar Herring, Dallas, TX; Joseph P., husband of Megan M. Chobot, Durham, NC; and Sarah (Chobot), wife of Phillip G. Thomson, Boston, MA. Also surviving are his paternal grandfather, Joseph Chobot, Susquehanna; his niece, Inara Pazienza, Dallas TX; and his “brother,” Chez Pazienza, Los Angeles, CA. Many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends also survive him.

The class of 1960 is offering a $1,000.00 scholarship in Oberlin’s memory to an Exeter High School student who is overcoming an obstacle. The winner will be announced in May in a program before graduation. To contribute, checks should be made payable to Exeter High School Eagles Alumni Association, Oberlin Scholarship, 200 Elm St., Reading, PA 19606.

Everyone has a story about David Oberlin

John David Oberlin took a window seat and ordered a steak at Effie’s Charcoal Chef in ExeterTownship.  The waitresses looked forward to his arrival.  “Everyone liked David,” said Effie Clauser, restaurant owner. “He was so smart. He was so nice.”  David had cerebral palsy, a brain disorder that results in poor motor coordination. By 2010 the disease had gotten to the point where David could no longer drive.  That’s when his friends from the Exeter High School Class of 1960 began driving David to Charcoal Chef and other restaurants.  “He was such a joy, and he was so smart,” his friend, Ross Lloyd, 73, West Grove, Chester County, recalled of John, who passed away July 6.

Ross, Barbara Cregar, 74, and Barry Smith, 74, both of Exeter Township, met recently for breakfast at the Charcoal Chef, the same restaurant where the friends went in the 1950s for burgers, to share memories of David.  They shared a bond created by helping care for David when his cerebral palsy advanced to the point where he became wheelchair-bound.  They moved David from his home in Exeter Township to Hearthstone, Amity Township.  Ross took care of the financial work.  Another friend, Phil Hite, 74, of Wyomissing took care of the day-to-day living needs.  “We took him to his old haunts,” Phil said. “David was a big part of my life for the last six years.  I miss him so much.”

The friends admired David’s tenacity for life. “We grew up with a guy who had cerebral palsy, and he was just one of us,” Ross said. “We had so much admiration for him. He was beloved by all.”  As a young boy, David lived in a  school for the disabled provided by Wood Service in Langhorne, Bucks County, for several years.  “There he learned how to develop life skills,” Phil said.  He was raised by his grandparents, Oscar and Margaret Funke. He went to St. Lawrence Elementary School in second grade and continued in the Exeter district until he graduated.  The school friends recalled that David used a manual typewriter, which he carried around, to take notes.  “He would bang into people in the hallways with his typewriter,” Barry said. “We realized it was better to carry his typewriter for him than to be hit by the typewriter.”

Barbara said she sang in a church choir with David.  “I remember he was very intelligent,” she said.  After graduating from Exeter High School, David attended Albright College for a year.  He then worked in highway maintenance for PennDOT for 43 years.  The majority of the group retired when they were in their 60s.  “We started going on a trip once a month,” Phil said. “We went to a battery plant, we went to see a battleship in Camden, and Gettysburg. We always included David.” Ross said he and David often went to Philadelphia Phillies games.  During the breakfast gathering, the friends pulled out a binder dated 1954 to 2009.  It was David’s typedup weather statistics. “Ask David Oberlin what the weather was like on your birthday, and he will tell you,” Ross said.  The friends are planning to give the weather book to the Berks History Center, 940 Centre Ave. “Every day he wrote what the weather was and what was going to happen the next day,” Phil said. “He was like a junior meteorologist.  The book will preserve the weather of Berks County from a personal viewpoint.”  Once the friends got started talking about David, they had a hard time running out of stories to tell.  “Everyone who knows David has a David story,” Phil said.