For more than four decades, Larry Weaver, BSPh ’74, and his wife, Carol, provided compassionate care to small town residents in Northeast Ohio. Larry, a respected retail pharmacist, and Carol, a pharmacy technician, served neighbors and families at CVS Pharmacies in Painesville, Willoughby, Mentor, and Wickliffe.
Now retired, the Weavers look back at Larry’s time at Ohio Northern University with gratitude. In particular, Larry is thankful for the critical $1,000 annual scholarship he received all five years at ONU. Without the scholarship, he explained, he wouldn’t have been able to complete his pharmacy degree.
That foundational experience, and the Weavers’ shared desire to support the educational aspirations of future generations of pharmacy students, led them to establish the Larry and Carol Weaver Endowed Scholarship Fund for Pharmacy Students through an estate gift.
“In the back of my mind, all these years, I knew I wanted to pay it forward someday,” said Larry. “When the opportunity arose, Carol and I were happy to establish a scholarship.”
Stuart Beatty, PharmD ’03, dean of the Raabe College of Pharmacy, expressed his gratitude for the generous gift. “Most of our students are similar to Larry when he was in school, and the opportunity to receive a scholarship can have a profound impact on their education and ability to impact others,” he said. “We thank the Weavers for the care they provided to their neighbors, and the impact this scholarship will have to provide care to so many others.”
Larry fondly recalls the well-rounded education he received at ONU. Beyond the rigor of the pharmacy curriculum, he valued the diversity of people he met, and the expanded worldview gained from liberal arts classes.
He became best friends with his college roommate, with both serving as best man in the other’s wedding. He volunteered with a drug information team that educated local public school students on the deadly effects of illegal drugs, and served as master at arms for the Phi Delta Chi pharmacy fraternity.
He speaks warmly of Professor Tom Gossel, BSPh ’63, Hon.D. ’17, an influential and positive role model. In fact, Larry recently reached out to Dr. Gossel to express his appreciation for his teaching and mentorship.
After graduation, Larry launched his retail career at Revco (later CVS), where he met and fell in love with Carol. Together, they spent their entire careers serving Northeast Ohio families at CVS Pharmacies, and they recently celebrated 50 years of marriage.
Larry described the satisfaction of filling prescriptions and seeing patients return a few days later feeling much better. He also enjoyed serving multiple generations of families.
“Part of the satisfaction was seeing somebody come in with a baby, and then before you know it, that baby would be an adult with children of their own,” he said.
Outside of work, Larry is an avid collector of mortar and pestles, possessing one of largest collections in the U.S. Since 1969, he has amassed over 200 unique and rare pieces from all over the world.
“Back in the day, the mortar was the true symbol of pharmacy but now they are seldom used except in compounding pharmacies,” he explained.
His favorite in his collection is the mortar and pestle his mom decoupaged for him as a Christmas gift many years ago.
Throughout their lives, Larry and Carol have served others with care and expertise. Setting up the scholarship through an estate gift allows them to continue to have an impact on others long after they are gone.
“ONU and its students are successful because so many alumni have given back over the years,” said Larry. “Carol and I are appreciative of the role that ONU played in our lives, and we hope our scholarship will make a difference.”
Shannon Spencer, vice president for University Advancement, also expressed gratitude for their commitment. “We are thankful that the Weavers have set up an estate gift that will provide essential scholarship support for future ONU pharmacy students. What a remarkable legacy they are leaving in helping others achieve their dreams and build fulfilling careers.”