Obituary of Wesley F. Hull II

August 30, 1969 - January 15, 2026
Wesley F. Hull II, Wes to the many who loved him, passed away on January 15, 2026, in Media, Pennsylvania, at the age of 56. He leaves behind a world that feels a little quieter, a little less vibrant, and a whole lot emptier without his booming laugh filling the room.

Wes was born on August 30, 1969, and grew up in South Philly, where he learned early that life was about connection - about showing up for people, really seeing them, and never being afraid to be exactly who you are. He carried those lessons with him everywhere he went. He graduated from Temple University in 1991 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business, and from there, he built a life defined by entrepreneurial spirit, creative ambition, and a magnetic pull toward the people around him.

Wes was a true entrepreneur who built an impressive career across multiple industries. He served as CEO of El Ride Productions, a movie and television production company based in Philadelphia that he led from 2015 onward, where he produced over 50 films, and was specifically proud of his role as the producer of Wish Man, Land of Bad, and A Better Place. His love of film and storytelling found a home there, but his entrepreneurial spirit extended far beyond film. In his early career, Wes was the founder and CEO of  Progressive Financial Services, Inc., a company he led for nearly 30 years beginning in 1995. Wes was progressive in his thinking and entrepreneurial in his core, always chasing the next idea, the next project, the next way to create something meaningful from the simplest beginnings. But for all his professional accomplishments, if you asked Wes what mattered most, the answer was simple: his family.

Above all else, Wes was a devoted husband and father. He is survived by his wife, Diana S. Hull, whom he adored, and his children, who were his entire world: Wesley F. Hull III (23), Emerson N. Hull (20), and Ruby N. Hull (7). He loved nothing more than spending time with them, whether they were battling it out over a game (vying for the win in chess, pool and Catan, or teaching all three kids how to play Texas Hold’Em at the age of six), jumping waves during summers in Ocean City, showing his family his favorite movies, or traveling the world. Wes also loved to share experiences over food; he brought his family to some of the nicest restaurants in the world, yet more important to him were the weekly meals at Azie with his sons, where he met his wife, and weekend breakfasts with his daughter at the local diner. He always supported his children's passions, whether that was Wesley’s brief obsession with NASCAR, Emerson's desire for a mohawk, or Ruby’s love of baby dolls. His most prized possessions were the photos of his children and the artwork they created together over the years.

His father, Wesley F. Hull, preceded him in death. Wes was also a cherished presence in the lives of his mother, Stephanie Hull, his brother Joe (Laura) Hull, his nieces and nephews, and his extended family and friends, who knew him as someone who showed up, always, with his whole heart.

Wes was the kind of person who could walk into a room full of strangers and walk out with a dozen new friends. He was genuinely interested in other people - not in a polite, surface-level way, but in a way that made you feel important. He asked questions. He listened. He debated with passion and laughed with abandon. And that laugh - loud, frequent, and entirely contagious- was the soundtrack of any gathering he attended. He went nowhere without making connections, without leaving people feeling a little better than he found them.

He was also utterly, unapologetically himself. Aside from his wife and kids, Wes did not care what anyone thought of him, and that confidence was liberating to witness. He had a closet full of clothes, but if you knew Wes, you knew he was almost certainly wearing his Eagles gear - he was a lifelong fan, and his beloved Eagles hoodie was practically a second skin.

When Wes wasn’t with his family, you could often find him hosting poker nights with his friends - dealing cards, trading stories, and on a good night, sweeping the table. He was an avid collector with a passion for historic and collectible items, ranging from fossils to film cells to signatures of America's founding fathers. But more than any hobby or destination, Wes loved taking care of people. He was a caretaker at his core, generous with his spirit, his time, and his effort. He gave freely, not because he expected anything in return, but because that was simply who he was.

Wes Hull was one of the largest personalities most of us will ever know. His presence in the lives of his friends and loved ones was immense - warm, steady, and impossibly bright. The world is dimmer without him, but for those of us lucky enough to have known him, we carry a little of that light with us now.

Rest easy, Wes. We love you always.

*In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation in Wes' memory to the Agnes Irwin School, reflecting how deeply he valued education: https://www.agnesirwin.org/supportais/make-a-gift.