by Rhonda Watt, Trustee
Tom Murray died July 27, 2024. The Trustees of The Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation wish to acknowledge with highest respect and appreciation for Tom Murray. His work, altruistic support, input and friendship has remained an important influence in the functioning of the Wightman-Wieber Charitable Foundation.
On February 19, 1989, 16 year old sophomores at Sandusky High School, Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber, were killed in a tragic train-car accident. The girlfriends sat in the car for twenty minutes behind the down-positioned crossing gates. At the same time, the Sandusky Police notified Conrail that a disabled train of theirs was blocking the tracks’ crossing. The train also blocked the girls’ view as they followed several cars that drove around the gates and crossed the double tracks. The girls never saw the train coming as they proceeded, thinking they could cross safely as the other cars did.
The law at that time said that a stopped train could not obstruct a public street for more than five minutes. Conrail had been in violation of the law. The car also disobeyed the law by crossing the tracks when the gates were down.
In the Conrail lawsuit, the largest percentage of the responsibility for the accident was acknowledged to be the railroad’s. Sandusky lawyer, Tom Murray, used a concept he called, “curative damages” at the end of the award phase of the trial. Ohio allowed jurors to learn about the plan for the use of a settlement or award. Tom Murray had approached Michele’s mother with the idea of creating a charitable foundation to which most of the punitive damages award and a portion of his legal fees would be used to create The Michelle Wightman and Karrie Wieber Charitable Foundation to help the community, families and children, and to promote public safety. Established in 2000, The Foundation has given away nearly seven million dollars to Erie County non-profits. The Foundation is a permanent, non-profit, public charity.
The Trustees of the Foundation approved October 2024 grants in the amount of $105,400:
Back to the Wild: Pre Release Raptor Flight Unit: 3000
Cancer Services: Cancer Patient Care Program: 5000
Care & Share of Erie Co: Choice Pantry-Food & Hygiene: 10,000
Caryl Crane Youth Theatre: Disney’s My Son Pinocchio: 3000
ECCF: Community Links Internship Program: 5000
Erie Shore Network: Health & Wellness Program: 2000
Firelands Symphony Orchestra: 2024-25 Music Education Program: 3000
Friends of Huron Public Library: Technology Literacy with AWE: 3000
Goodwill Industries: Technical Assistance for Disabled Individuals: 8100
Greater Sandusky Partnership: Strategic Priorities & Goals: 20,000
Huron Public Library: Wonderbook & VOX Books: 3200
Julie Roth Memorial Foundation: Emergency Identification Awareness: 5000
New Jerusalem Baptist Church: Community Christmas Gathering: 4100
Ohgo: Empty Bowls Match Grant: 10,000
Salvation Army: Emergency Social Services: 5000
Sandusky Middle School: 8th Grade Washington DC Trip: 5000
Second Harvest Food Bank of NC OH Holy Angles/Zion Lutheran Church: Erie Co Food Distributions: 10,000