OGUNQUIT — Henry J. Weller Jr., who died June 25, is to be memorialized for his contributions to The Ogunquit Playhouse in an upcoming, private ceremony.

Weller was the general manager of the playhouse from 1950-97, and worked in partnership with John Lane from the beginning when Lane first purchased the theater in 1950, during the heyday of the Summer Stock Circuit and the establishment of the Council of Summer Theatres that Lane initiated.

Lane served as producer of The Royal Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach, Florida from 1972-79 and Weller served as the theater’s accountant. In 1997, Weller was instrumental in creating the Ogunquit Playhouse Foundation to transfer John Lane’s property to a nonprofit arts institution when Lane retired due to illness. He went on to serve as treasurer of the Ogunquit Playhouse Board of Directors from 1997 to 2003; assistant treasurer from 2003-12 and then as a board member emeritus until his death.

“Henry Weller has, for more than a half century, been a cornerstone of this great American Theatre,” said Bradford Kenney, in a statement issued Thursday. “Joining the company alongside John Lane, Henry’s tenure and legacy will have endured as one of the longest in the business, helping shape not only the Ogunquit Playhouse, but summer theater in the United States.

“Personally, Henry has long been our guiding force, sage and connection to the storied past of the playhouse as we have grown into its present and future. His loss is felt very keenly here and we are proud to carry his Ogunquit Playhouse forward in his honor.”

Weller was always a welcome sight at the Playhouse, said Kenney, and his wry sense of humor and his wealth of stories about the famous actors and actresses that appeared on the stage delighted anyone lucky enough to hear him speak. He was always thrilled to see the playhouse’s continued success and applauded and encouraged Kenney and all the staff as the Ogunquit Playhouse continued to grow.

Weller was born in New York City on June 19, 1926 and always maintained a home there. He was a graduate of New York University School of Commerce and Business. Prior to his years in Ogunquit, he was a partner in his father’s accounting business, the Henry J. Weller Company in New York City, and later was a self-employed accountant.

He and his father also served as auxiliary police officers in the town of New Castle (Chappaqua-Millwood) from the late 1950s to early 1960s. In 1951, while in Ogunquit, Henry met Penny Power and they married three years later. Although they divorced after 32 years of marriage, they remained friends and spoke often.

He is survived by: his two loving sons, Thomas H. Weller and his wife Eileen Weller of Poughkeepsie, New York and John Frederick Weller of Saugerties, New York; along with his two grandchildren, Douglas Weller and Karen Weller.

A memorial in his honor will be held for family and friends, and they request that memorial donations be made to The Ogunquit Playhouse in memory of Henry Weller, P.O. Box 915, Ogunquit, ME 03907. For more information, contact membership coordinator Kelly Thayer at 646-2402, ext. 218.