Robert Weiss

Robert Charles Weiss of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, died peacefully at home on December 24, 2025, age 91. Bob was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on May 13, 1934, and grew up in New Jersey and Westchester County suburbs of New York City. His first move was to attend the University of Illinois, from which he graduated in 1956.

Prior to attending college, Bob began dating Leona Kathryn Kropp of Cleveland, Ohio, whom he met while she was living with her family in Scarsdale, New York. They married on September 1, 1956. After marriage they settled in the Cleveland, Ohio, area and eventually had three children: Gary, Kathryn, and Elizabeth.

Bob began a career in radio ad sales in 1957 that led to eventual ownership, along with several partners, of radio stations in Cleveland, White Plains, Pittsburgh, Dallas, St. Louis, Miami, Tampa, and other cities through the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Among the stations of which Bob was most proud were WIXY 1260/Cleveland and Y-100/Miami, two of the most well-regarded Top 40 stations in radio history.

As a life-long member of the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, Bob led his family in continuing his strong family heritage in "the Truth." His maternal grandparents were early Bible Students in upstate New York, and his mother raised Bob as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He attended meetings regularly at the Kingdom Hall, most recently as a member of the Carrboro, North Carolina Congregation, serving as an elder for many years.

Bob enjoyed regularly sharing with others the Holy Bible’s “good news” about God's Kingdom and assisting persons to make “the truth” their own. Bob was happy to use his background in radio and the media to assist in the News Service Department at Regional Conventions, and mentored others in that work. He considered it a privilege to work in securing use of the Cleveland Stadium as the site of the 1975 District Convention, and later the Richfield Coliseum, south of Cleveland, where Witnesses held conventions in the 1980s.

As with his mother and upstate New York family, Bob had life-long interest in boating. In Cleveland, he often bought out time on summer weekends to navigate his boats on Lake Erie and with other boating friends into Michigan and Canada. Later, Bob and Lee established a winter home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Bob set up a boat chartering business for some years. Later, he delighted to leisurely cruise the canals and Intercoastal waterways in his electric boat, Leeward. As a couple, Bob and Lee enjoyed Florida living, hosting friends and family and sitting on the back deck to enjoy the sun and the swaying palm trees.

When it came time for retirement, Bob and Lee had more time for Florida living but eventually made North Carolina home to be closer to their children. The move allowed both of them to enjoy the state’s golf courses and more opportunities for outings with friends and family. In 2013, at the age of 79, Bob recorded his first hole-in-one with his son Gary and went on to shoot a 93 that day from the white tees (the tees for those under 65 years)! Additionally, Bob and Lee had the opportunity to travel extensively, including the 1993 international convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kyiv, Ukraine, and in Moscow, Russia, and a family trip to Tuscany in 2012.

Preceded in death by his parents Eric and Katherine Weiss and his brother Frederic Weiss, Bob’s survivors include his loving wife of 69 years Leona K. (Lee), his son Gary and his wife Jill, daughters Kathryn Quandt and her husband Robert, and Elizabeth Erlenmeyer and her husband David, his grandchildren Jessica Arner married to Justin, Matthew Weiss married to Katherine, and great-grandchildren Beckett and Luna Arner, all of North Carolina. He also had nephews and cousins and many close friends.

People knew Bob as a kind, pleasant and positive person with a calm demeanor who kept many friends dear. He showed keen interest in others by giving a listening ear, helpful advice, and by his generosity and hospitality.

Bob valued times with family and always esteemed the prayer before a meal to express his thanks and his treasured conviction in the benefits of living up to God’s Word. He had strong faith in Jehovah God’s promise of a New World to come and the return to life on earth for those who have died.—Job 14:14, 15; Psalm 37:29.

A memorial talk will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1445 Old Apex Road, Cary, North Carolina. For those who wish to tie in by Zoom: Meeting ID 651-051-7207, Passcode 566316.