Edwin Meader (September 21, 1909 - February 1, 2007) was a geography professor at Western Michigan University and philanthropist.
Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Meader moved to Kalamazoo in 1925.[1] He studied at Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan, from which he graduated in 1933.[1] While serving in World War II, Meader visited a University of Michigan excavation area in Egypt, fueling his interest in geography and archaeology.[1]
After the death of his first wife, Margaret, Meader married Mary Upjohn in 1965.[1] The new couple donated millions of dollars to Western Michigan University, the University of Michigan, and various Kalamazoo charities.[2] One of their largest gifts was the donation of $4 million to Western Michigan University.[3] It resulted in the creation of the W.E. Upjohn Center for the Study of Geographical Change, after her grandfather.[3] It digitizes maps and aerial photographs from all over the world and documents and evaluates geographic changes.[3]
Meader died on February 1, 2007, at the age of 97.[1] He was survived by his wife Mary, who died March 16, 2008.[3]