Westing’s obituary includes many important facts about the man and his life—facts which will all become important to remember as the Westing game unfolds. Westing’s life was marred by tragedy and loss, yet he retained a deep-seated sense of patriotism and a belief in America’s promises. Westing, like all of the other characters in the novel, was a deeply complex and difficult man—and the quest to unravel the mysteries of his life will become the book’s confounding center.