Dr. Manfred Weigele

Dr. Manfred Weigele, a distinguished chemist and devoted father, died peacefully on Friday, July 11, 2025, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He was 93.

Born in Göppingen, Germany, to Richard and Gertrude, Manfred was raised by his mother and grandparents after the death of his father in World War II. His early life in postwar Germany instilled in him both resilience and curiosity. He began his career as an apprentice textile dyer before his passion for science led him to university studies in chemistry. He earned doctorates from the Technische Universität Braunschweig and the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1965.

That same year, Manfred joined Hoffmann-La Roche in Nutley, NJ, as a senior research scientist. Over the next 26 years, he became a driving force in pharmaceutical research, eventually serving as associate vice president and group director of chemistry research. In 1991, he retired from Roche and co-founded ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, where he served as chief scientific officer until 1999 and continued to consult in an advisory role well into retirement. A pioneer in the biotech industry, he co-authored or co-invented over 100 scientific publications and U.S. patents. He was also deeply committed to advancing research into Parkinson’s disease through his work with the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Manfred lived in Essex and Passaic counties, New Jersey, before moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1991. He relocated to Newburyport in 2023.

Beyond the laboratory, Manfred was a man of wide interests and sharp intellect. He loved sailing in the summer, skiing across the U.S. and Europe in winter, and traveling extensively throughout Europe, North Africa, and Japan. A voracious reader and engaged conversationalist, he found joy in the company of family, friends, and good books.

He is survived by his sons (with former spouse Eleonore Weigele) Mark (Jacqueline), Peter (Rebecca), his stepdaughter Nicole (William), his grandchildren Zoë, Emma, Simon, Margo, Charlotte and Liam, his sister Anneliese, his brother Jörg, extended family, companion Susan Swan, close friend Klaus Haeussler, and numerous friends whose lives he touched and who supported him in his later years. He was predeceased by his partner of 20 years, Debra Joy, and his sister Waltraud.

A private memorial service will be announced. Interment will take place at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Twomey, LeBlanc and Conte Funeral Home.

Manfred will be remembered not only for his scientific contributions but also for his warmth, humor, and boundless curiosity about the world.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Doctors Without Borders, a cause close to Manfred Weigele’s heart.

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