Obituary of Lewis Meriwether

WESTPORT, CONN. Dr. Lewis Smith Meriwether, age 90, died peacefully on March 23, 2021 at Fairfield County House in Stamford, CT. Lewis quietly embodied the noble virtues of a modern Renaissance man. He was an accomplished chemist, inventor, scholar, investor, singer, world-traveller, devoted husband, and wise patriarch to a large and successful family. Lewis was born on May 23, 1930 in Washington, DC. A precocious and brilliant student at Roosevelt High School, Lewis graduated as class valedictorian in 1948 and earned a scholarship to Harvard University. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in 1952 with an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and subsequently earned his Ph.D in Chemistry from the University of Chicago in 1955. Lewis then embarked on a long and celebrated career as a chemist and inventor with the American Cyanamid Company in Stamford, CT. During his nearly thirty years at American Cyanamid, he played a critical role in the discovery, research, and application of many chemicals and was granted numerous patents. Following his retirement from chemistry, Lewis joined a prominent real estate investment firm in Westport, CT, where he worked for thirty more years. Lewis' vast interests extended far beyond his professional achievements. He sang as a tenor in several musical groups, including nearly forty years with the Fairfield County Chorale. He was a voracious reader of classical literature and could identify musical symphonies and composers simply by hearing introductory notes. Lewis was a skilled chess player and imparted his love for the game to his children and grandchildren. He also frequented the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, played the harpsichord, and collected priceless art pieces and rare books. Nonetheless, like a true Renaissance man, he was also a keen handyman who could fix a broken washing machine or repair a car as easily as he could checkmate an unprotected king. However, of all his innumerable life accomplishments, Lewis was most proud of his marriage to Nahid Farbod Meriwether, the love of his life, whom he wed in 1953. Lewis and Nahid traversed the globe together, visiting forty-eight countries and accumulating adventures, stories, and antiquities from every corner of the world. Over their nearly sixty-eight years of marriage, the couple made a happy home in Westport, raised three successful children, and provided immeasurable love, guidance, and wisdom to new generations of the family for decades. Lewis loved Nahid as much as a man could love anything, and their union was the greatest jewel in his long and wonderful life. Lewis is survived by his wife, Nahid, his three children, David, Victoria, and Todd, his grandchildren, George, Dani, Noor, Stephanie, Nicholas, David, Natalie, and Parker, and his great-grandchildren, Basil, Graydon, Dallas, Declan, and Jack. A service in his memory will be held at 3 PM on Friday, April 9, 2021 at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main Street, Westport CT, 06880. The Harding Funeral Home of Westport, directed the arrangements.