| "He was the kind of guy who made everything around him -- things,
people -- better," said Gary Shif, who became his friend and hired him to
work at his business, Best Cleaners.
Weyman died July 22 in his efficiency apartment above the cleaner's
main plant-operations center downtown. Medical examiners have yet to
disclose the cause of death to friends because they are searching for
Weyman's next of kin. Friends think he was 54.
Four years ago, all Shif knew about Weyman was that the Vietnam veteran
was headed for death living on the street.
It was rainy and cold. Shif volunteered for the Ripple Effect, which at
the time served food to the homeless at Lake Eola. Weyman's wiry beard was
soaked. He wore two jackets but still shivered hard.
"My first reaction was, if I don't do something, this guy was going to
die of pneumonia," said Shif, 37. Shif offered dry clothes and use of a
vacant warehouse he owned. Weyman accepted reluctantly.
"This guy didn't want something for nothing," the businessman said. "He
had a lot of honor."
Later, Shif gave Weyman a small apartment and a maintenance job at his
operations center. Weyman's work astonished him.
Weyman was different from other men. When he spoke, it was about
philosophy or the Bible. He took a humanities course at Valencia Community
College through a special program for the underprivileged, and he loved
Plato and classical music.
Through Compassion Corner, a ministry of First Presbyterian Church of
Orlando downtown, he sketched and painted with oils.
At work, he turned piles of discarded brackets and motors into homemade
fans. He picked up operations procedures in a snap.
Most importantly, Weyman was a good man, Shif said. He trusted him with
every key at the plant. Shif, local college professors and others thought
of him as a sage.
"Everybody around him learned to love him," Shif said.
Weyman achieved a comfortable life. He awoke happy, arrived at work at
7:30 a.m., and by 8:30 sat at a maintenance-room desk, reading a paper and
sipping coffee. Shif promoted him to head of inventory, managing and
distributing all the paper, hangers, wire ties and other supplies that
make a dry cleaners run.
"He made it. He was able to turn his life around," Shif said.
Weyman died alone in the apartment Shif gave him. Although it was
crowded with writing and books, it contained almost no hint of his former
life. A receipt for a state identification card hinted he died at the age
of 54.
Weyman never told Shif he was sick.
"The one thing I regret is I never got the chance to save him," Shif
said.
Weyman has no known survivors.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be determined, but Shif hopes to bury
him at a military cemetery. A memorial is planned at 4 p.m. today at Best
Cleaners' Plant Operations Center, 2140 W. Church St., Orlando.
| ![[The Orlando Sentinel]](weyman_files/orlsent.gif)