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William Weems: a TV producer, but a family man first

By DAVE GERSHMAN

Staff writer

He was a well-known television producer, whose work was seen by thousands. But his life, friends and co-workers say, was focused on two people, his wife, Lisa, and daughter, Zoe.

William Weems, 46, was on United Airlines Flight 175, headed from Los Angeles to Boston, when it struck one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Weems lived in Marblehead, not far from the ocean at 2 Calthrope Road. His loss is felt among the tightly knit Gerry School community, where his daughter attends school. He was remembered as the tall father with the ready smile, who made an effort to go into work a little bit late to spend more time with his daughter.

Several years ago, he worked as the executive producer for a company called September Productions, where a co-worker last year called him, "one of the good guys ... one of the best."

Weems' family could not be reached for comment on the anniversary of Sept. 11.

But a friend, Ellen Stafford, wrote the following tribute on a Web site:

"Producers are a busy bunch, and their friends and family often suffer neglect due to misplaced priorities. Bill, on the other hand, made sure his priorities stayed straight."

One of his last projects was a humorous commercial, filmed with satirist Michael Moore, that targeted tobacco companies. He filmed several other public service announcements. Nanci Griffith, a folk singer, recorded a song for the Environmental Protection Agency. Weems helped produce it. In Los Angeles, Griffith and her band had just finished playing at the House of Blues and started breaking down their equipment when Weems climbed up and began playing the keyboard. Her band mates joined in.

"The lads told him not to give up his day job," Griffith wrote on her Web site.

But that wasn't the point. Weems had a sense of humor and found fun in life.

"Bill was a man with a great sense of humor and humility," she wrote.